Key facts
- Mediazona and BBC Russian service confirmed 258,989 Russian military deaths in Ukraine.
- Over 10,000 names were added to the list in less than two weeks, doubling the usual rate.
- The increase in confirmed deaths is largely due to a leaked list of bodies exchanged between Russia and Ukraine.
- The actual number of deaths is likely significantly higher than verified figures.
- As of Sept. 21, 7,692 officers of Russian military and security agencies were identified.
- Around 20,500 mobilized soldiers are included in the list, though this is an underestimate.
Russian independent media outlet Mediazona, in collaboration with the BBC Russian service, has confirmed the identities of 258,989 Russian military personnel killed in Ukraine. The outlet reported that over 10,000 names were added to the list in less than two weeks, approximately double the usual rate. This increase is attributed to a leaked list of bodies exchanged between Russia and Ukraine, with names verified through official registries.
Journalists noted that the actual number of deaths is likely significantly higher, as their verified information relies on public sources such as obituaries, social media posts by relatives, regional media reports, and statements from local authorities. As of September 21, Mediazona had confirmed the deaths of 7,692 officers from the Russian military and other security agencies. The list also includes around 20,500 mobilized soldiers, though Mediazona stated this figure is a significant underestimate due to the omission of recruitment details in recent obituaries. The date of death is known in 241,600 cases. Mediazona cautioned that data for the most recent months is incomplete and subject to change as additional deaths are verified.
President Volodymyr Zelensky stated on September 27 that Ukrainian forces had killed or wounded 10,660 Russian troops in the preceding week, citing a report from Commander-in-Chief Mykhailo Drapatyi. These losses occurred as Ukrainian forces continued offensive operations in the Lyman sector of Donetsk Oblast. Ukraine's General Staff estimated on September 27 that Russia had sustained 1,528,970 personnel losses since the start of the full-scale invasion, a figure that does not differentiate between killed, wounded, missing, or captured troops. Casualty estimates vary widely, and neither Russia nor Ukraine publishes comprehensive, independently verifiable figures for military losses.