Over 226,000 Russian Soldiers Killed in Ukraine War Identified by Investigative Journalists

Russian Military Losses During the Invasion of Ukraine

According to Главком: Journalists have managed to put names to 226,055 Russian troops who have been killed since the start of Moscow's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Among those confirmed dead are more than 200 individuals who were only 18 years old at the time of their deaths. The regions suffering the heaviest confirmed losses include:

• Bashkortostan, with over 10,000 military fatalities,
• Tatarstan, reporting 8,759 dead,
• The Moscow region, where 6,084 losses have been recorded.

Overall estimates for pro-Russian forces casualties range from 371,080 to 528,148 personnel.

Breakdown of Losses and Demographic Trends

According to the data, more than half of the deceased (56%) were volunteers, conscripts, or convicts recruited from penal colonies. In the last two weeks alone, over 2,500 new names were added to the casualty list. The Russian service of the BBC notes that soldiers from Tuva, Buryatia, and the Altai Republic are 20 to 30 times more likely to appear on the death list than those from Moscow. These regions have high densities of male population, which skews the fatality statistics.

The first Russian soldier born in 2008 to be confirmed killed was Alisher Svirin, whose death was recorded on May 1, 2026. During the first quarter of 2026, the Russian army signed 71,216 new contracts, indicating a sustained level of military engagement. Data from Russia's Ministry of Finance suggests roughly 9,000 troops are being killed per month, or about 300 daily fatalities.

The analysis covers between 45% and 65% of the actual number of front-line deaths over more than four years of war. Military experts believe the true losses exceed what can be gathered from open sources. Based on the collected data, total pro-Russian force casualties are estimated to range from 371,080 to 528,148 service members.

These figures underscore the severe human toll Russia has endured during the conflict in Ukraine, particularly among the young and other vulnerable groups. The high proportion of dead volunteers and mobilized prisoners highlights Russia's strategy of compensating for losses by drawing from less protected segments of society. The continued signing of new military contracts also suggests that the war is far from over, and that casualty numbers are likely to keep climbing.

The ongoing conflict continues to escalate, with recent reports indicating that Russian military losses have exceeded 145,000 since the beginning of 2026. This alarming trend highlights the severe toll on personnel, further emphasizing the urgency of understanding the broader implications of these casualties on both sides of the war.