Key facts
- Over 239,000 Russian military personnel have been identified as killed in Ukraine.
- The confirmed death toll covers the period from February 24, 2022, to August 13, 2026.
- Among the confirmed dead are 87,749 volunteers, 26,416 prisoners, and 19,778 mobilized soldiers.
- The actual number of Russian deaths is likely significantly higher than confirmed figures.
- Ukraine's acting police chief revealed over 20,000 draft evasion cases and probes into recruitment center corruption.
- Russia has established 10 new drone launch sites near Ukraine, potentially within range of NATO countries.
- Russia and North Korea reaffirmed their commitment to continued cooperation in all sectors.
Russian independent media outlet Mediazona, in collaboration with the BBC Russian service, has confirmed the identities of 239,354 Russian military personnel killed in Ukraine. The latest count covers confirmed military deaths from February 24, 2022, through August 13, 2026. Among the identified dead are 87,749 volunteers, 26,416 recruited prisoners, and 19,778 mobilized soldiers, with 7,530 officers also confirmed killed.
The actual figure of deaths is likely significantly higher, as verification is a painstakingly slow process drawing from various sources. Mediazona attributed the reporting lag in part to increased drone use and military tactics that can result in bodies being unrecovered for extended periods.
Ukraine's National Police has investigated over 20,000 criminal cases of draft evasion since martial law was imposed. Acting head of the National Police, Maksym Tsutskiridze, also revealed probes into corruption within regional recruitment centers and military medical commissions, with 76 heads of recruitment centers notified of suspicion.
Russia has established 10 bases with new launch pads for jet-powered drones along its borders with Ukraine and Belarus, potentially bringing NATO countries within their range, according to The Telegraph. The use of these drones by Russia has increased significantly.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un exchanged messages reaffirming their close relationship. Putin stated that cooperation between Russia and North Korea would continue 'in all sectors,' while Kim praised their ties. North Korea has become a significant military supporter of Russia's war in Ukraine, supplying missiles and artillery ammunition.