By John Q. Hosedrinker 
Mediazona, a Russian independent media outlet, and BBC Russia have identified the names of 77,143 Russian soldiers killed since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, based on publicly available information. This figure is likely a significant undercount, as it only reflects verified data from sources such as obituaries and official reports. The casualties have increased substantially in recent months, with October marking the deadliest month for Russian forces. The deployment of North Korean troops to Russia may be linked to these losses, with President Zelensky confirming their presence and casualties in Kursk Oblast. The average age of volunteer recruits killed in action is increasing, with a plurality falling between 48 and 50 years old. The bloodiest day for Russian forces was May 13th, with an estimated 1,740 casualties.
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Mediazona, a Russian independent media outlet, in collaboration with BBC Russia, has confirmed the identities of over 77,000 Russian soldiers who have been killed since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The outlet has been meticulously documenting the casualties through open-source research, drawing information from public sources like obituaries, social media posts by relatives, regional media reports, and statements from local authorities.
Since Mediazona’s last update in October, the list has grown by 1,761 names, highlighting the ongoing human cost of the conflict. The actual number of casualties is likely even higher than those confirmed by Mediazona, given the reliance on publicly available information. The UK’s defense minister estimated in November that Russia suffered its deadliest month in October, with an average of 1,354 casualties each day.
British defense intelligence has calculated that Russia has likely suffered over 696,000 losses since the invasion began, a figure remarkably close to Ukraine’s reported total of 707,540 as of November 9. The significant surge in casualties in recent months has prompted speculation about the role of North Korean troops in the conflict. President Zelensky revealed in November that North Korean troops fighting alongside Russian forces in Kursk Oblast are experiencing casualties, although he did not specify the number.
The war has claimed the lives of over 4,300 Russian officers, with a significant proportion of those killed being convicts. The war has also had a notable impact on the age demographics of Russian casualties, with the average age of volunteer recruits steadily rising. The majority of fallen volunteers are in their late 40s and early 50s, demonstrating the strain the conflict is placing on Russia’s manpower.
The bloodiest day for Russian forces was May 13, when they suffered an estimated 1,740 casualties. The Wall Street Journal reported in September, based on undisclosed sources and Western intelligence estimates, that roughly a million Ukrainian and Russian soldiers and civilians have been killed or wounded since the war began.
The human cost of the conflict is staggering, and the numbers continue to rise. While the exact reasons behind Russia’s motivation for launching the invasion are complex and debated, it’s clear that the human cost of the war has been immense, with no clear end in sight.