Over 70,000 Russian Soldiers Killed in Ukraine, Volunteers Face High Casualty Rates
The war in Ukraine has claimed the lives of over 70,000 Russian soldiers, according to data analyzed by the BBC and the independent website Mediazona. This staggering figure marks a grim milestone as Russia’s losses continue to mount in the ongoing conflict. For the first time since the full-scale invasion began in 2022, the highest proportion of those killed are volunteers, civilians who joined the fight after the war began. These volunteers now face a brutal reality on the front lines, often referred to as a "meat grinder" for the relentless toll it takes on Russian forces.
The analysis draws on open-source information, including official statements, obituaries, and social media posts, to track the names of the deceased. The real number is believed to be even higher, as some families choose not to publicize the deaths of their loved ones, and deaths in militia groups from Russian-occupied areas of Donetsk and Luhansk are not fully accounted for. Among the confirmed fatalities, volunteers make up around 20%, surpassing former prisoners, who had previously represented the largest group of casualties. Weekly deaths of volunteers have consistently exceeded 100 since October 2023, with some weeks seeing as many as 310 killed.
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The story of Rinat Khusniyarov, a 62-year-old volunteer from Ufa in Bashkortostan, highlights the tragic fate of many Russian civilians who are drawn into the conflict. He signed up in November 2023 and was killed just three months later. His obituary describes him as a hardworking, decent man, illustrating how ordinary civilians are being swept into the war, often from economically struggling regions where stable work is scarce.
Many of these volunteers, aged between 42 and 50, come from small towns across Russia. Driven by economic hardship, they are lured into military service with promises of high salaries and social benefits. In some cases, coercion and threats are also reported. However, the grim reality of their deployment to the most dangerous areas of the front line, particularly in the Donetsk region, leads to rising casualty rates. Russian soldiers describe a "meat grinder" strategy, where waves of troops are sent forward with little support to overwhelm Ukrainian defenses.
The conditions for these volunteers are often dire. Soldiers report poor training, with many thrown into combat after just a week of preparation. Equipment is substandard, with some describing outdated uniforms, ill-fitting boots, and inadequate gear. Many must purchase their own equipment to increase their chances of survival.
The Russian government appears reluctant to initiate another wave of forced mobilization, instead relying on volunteers and incentives to keep up its fighting force. Recruitment efforts target men with financial difficulties, and even those facing criminal charges are given the option to fight in exchange for leniency. Foreigners living in Russia are also being recruited, often with promises of citizenship or legal protections, though many later complain they did not understand the terms of their contracts.
As the war drags on, the toll on Russian forces, especially volunteers, continues to rise, revealing the harsh realities faced by those drawn into the conflict. The scale of the losses, particularly among civilians with little military experience, paints a devastating picture of Russia's military campaign in Ukraine.
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