By John Q. Hosedrinker 
Recent analysis by Mediazona and the BBC’s Russian service confirmed the identities of 15,000 mobilized Russian soldiers killed in Ukraine, representing a significant portion of the 133,117 total Russian military deaths verified since 2022. The data reveals that 42% of these deaths occurred within the first year after President Putin’s partial mobilization in September 2022. Bashkortostan and Tatarstan had the highest confirmed deaths among mobilized soldiers, while Chechnya had the lowest. The actual number of losses is likely far higher, and the report also noted that many were coerced into signing contracts.
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More than 15,000 mobilized Russian soldiers killed in Ukraine identified by media investigation, and the numbers are staggering. It’s hard to wrap your head around the sheer scale of loss, but a recent media investigation has confirmed that at least this many mobilized Russian soldiers have perished in the conflict. We’re talking about individuals, real people, pulled from their lives and thrown into the brutal reality of war.
These losses, and I think it’s safe to assume, the actual number is much higher, were not distributed evenly. The analysis revealed that a significant portion of these deaths occurred within the first year following Putin’s announcement of a “partial mobilization” in September 2022. This means a wave of newly conscripted soldiers were thrust into the fighting early on, suffering heavy casualties. It’s a sobering thought, especially when considering the lack of adequate training and equipment that these men often faced.
The investigation further highlights how these losses are spread geographically. Bashkortostan and Tatarstan, regions within Russia, unfortunately recorded the highest confirmed numbers of deaths among the mobilized soldiers, with 884 and 861 deaths respectively. The Moscow Oblast also saw a significant number of fatalities, with 456 confirmed deaths, while Moscow itself reported 242. Interestingly, Chechnya recorded the lowest confirmed number, with only one death.
It seems like a deliberate effort to avoid providing definitive answers to family members, potentially to avoid the difficult and costly process of notifying families and providing the necessary payouts. The reluctance to acknowledge the full extent of the casualties speaks volumes about the Russian government’s priorities. They seem more concerned with managing the narrative and avoiding any potential unrest than with the well-being of the soldiers and their families.
Many of these soldiers weren’t volunteers, according to reports. They were coerced into signing contracts, often under the threat of being sent to high-risk assault units. This paints a grim picture, showing a system that prioritized quantity over quality, sacrificing the lives of ordinary men to fuel the war machine. The average age of these fallen soldiers was 35, which is older than I had initially assumed.
The human cost of this war is devastating. It’s a waste of human life, all around. The fact that so many family men, fathers, and husbands have lost their lives is a tragedy. The sheer number of lives lost is a testament to the brutal nature of the conflict. These are not just statistics; they represent broken families, shattered dreams, and a profound loss that will be felt for generations.
The fact that the Russian population hasn’t risen up is a bit surprising. Especially when considering the lack of adequate backup support and the ill-equipped soldiers sent to the front lines. It is interesting to compare this with other conflicts. These numbers, even just the officially identified ones, dwarf the US casualties from nearly two decades of conflict in Iraq and Afghanistan combined.
The source of these numbers is interesting, with the investigation relying on the information collected from Russian media outlets. Officially, one region, Bashkortostan, has declared almost 6,000 deaths. And this is just the official tally. Given the Russian tendency to label many soldiers as “MIA” to avoid payouts, the true number is undoubtedly much higher. This underscores the deliberate opacity surrounding the conflict and the lengths to which the Russian government goes to obscure the reality of its losses.
In terms of combat doctrine, the difference between the US and Russia’s approach is stark. While the US prioritizes preserving trained soldiers and expending ammunition and equipment, Russia seems willing to expend its personnel, especially those who are untrained and lacking proper equipment. This fundamental difference in approach explains the scale of casualties on the Russian side, particularly among the mobilized troops.
Looking at non-Russian estimates paints an even grimmer picture. Western sources and OSINT, or open-source intelligence, put Russian casualties far higher. Some estimates range from 700,000 to 1.1 million casualties. The Pokrovsk front alone is estimated to have suffered as many as 94,000 casualties out of approximately 110,000 troops. These are estimates, of course, but they underscore the tremendous costs of the war.
The war has become a war of attrition, where Russia seems to hold a slight advantage due to its willingness to take massive losses. It’s a terrible prospect, and it highlights the need for a negotiated settlement. The hope is that a path to peace can be found before things get any worse, before the cost becomes too high.