The death toll among Russian soldiers as a result of the ongoing invasion of Ukraine has exceeded that of the Soviet war in Afghanistan, according to a new study.
Researchers arrived at that figure using reports on published obituaries, mortality data from the Federal State Statistics Service, and extensive records from the National Probate Registry, according to Meduza.
Additionally, the research team was able to access a restricted but nonclassified database of inheritance cases, allowing them greater insight into the number of actual deaths stemming from the ongoing conflict.
While the rough estimate is 47,000, the researchers warn that the figure could actually be higher.
“We estimate that between 40,000 and 55,000 Russian men under the age of 50 died fighting in Ukraine by May 27, 2023,” the report says. “When factoring in the number of men wounded so seriously that they did not return to military service, Russia’s total casualty count rises to at least 125,000 soldiers, based on our calculations.”
That figure does not include Russian soldiers who are missing or were captured, or Ukrainian nationals fighting with Russian proxy forces based in Donetsk and Luhansk, the researchers said.
Exact Numbers Still Unknown
“In 15 months of fighting (from February 24, 2022, to late May 2023), three times more Russian soldiers died in Ukraine than Soviet troops over 10 years of war in Afghanistan,” the study authors wrote. “Nine times more soldiers were killed in Ukraine than in the first Russian-Chechen War between 1994 and 1996. ”The estimated numbers are similar to those published by the United Kingdom’s Ministry of Defense in February. At the time, officials estimated approximately 40,000 to 60,000 Russians had likely been killed in the war.
However, the exact numbers are unclear, and Russian authorities have only publicly acknowledged the deaths of just over 6,000 soldiers since the invasion began.
Responding to the latest estimations on Monday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters during a press conference that he had not yet seen the report on Russian deaths and declined to provide an updated accurate figure.
Senior Russian Military Leader ‘Dismissed’
Mr. Peskov also noted that the Kremlin had “stopped monitoring” the news site Meduza.“The Defense Ministry gives the numbers, and they’re the only ones who have that prerogative,” Mr. Peskov said.
The latest report comes as a top Russian military official, Gen. Ivan Popov, allegedly claimed to have been dismissed from his post after complaining that the Russian defense ministry was failing to adequately support troops.
“I also raised a number of other problems and expressed it all at the highest level frankly and extremely harshly,” Mr. Popov said in the message. “I had no right to lie, therefore, I outlined all the problematic issues that exist today in the army in terms of combat work and support.”
After raising his concerns, Mr. Popov claims to have been removed from his role at the direction of Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu.
Following the publication of the voice notes, a senior official of the pro-government United Russia party, Andrey Turchak, criticized Mr. Gurulyov for sharing what he said were private messages not intended to be shared with the public.
“Let the fact that ... Gurulyov somehow got hold of this and made a political show out of it remain on his conscience,” Mr. Turchak said.