**Russia’s Hidden Military Losses: Ukrainian Initiative Receives Over 100,000 Requests from Desperate Families**
In a shocking revelation, Ukraine’s Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War (POWs) has announced that over 100,000 Russian families have contacted their initiative to search for missing relatives who were serving in Russia’s military. The announcement comes as Russia and Ukraine are conducting a series of prisoner exchanges since the beginning of the large-scale war in 2022.
The initiative, called “I Want to Find” (Russian: “Хочу найти”), has been inundated with requests from Russian citizens seeking answers about relatives who vanished while serving in Russia’s military. The actual number of missing Russian troops is believed to be significantly higher, but the Kremlin has largely concealed the scale of its military losses since launching its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
**A Record Number of Requests**
In May alone, the project received a record 12,320 inquiries – the highest monthly figure since the program began in January 2024. This surge in requests is a stark reminder of the desperation and uncertainty faced by families who have lost loved ones to Russia’s brutal war. Through the project, families can verify whether their relatives have been captured or killed, which may enable them to pressure Russian authorities to pursue prisoner exchanges.
**Exchanges and Confirmations**
As of June, Ukraine has confirmed 2,415 Russian soldiers held in captivity, with 1,126 of them already exchanged for Ukrainian defenders. However, many more Russians remain in captivity, and the agency warns that not all families know about the program or have submitted requests. A detailed analysis of the requests reveals that some of Russia’s most severely depleted units include the 15th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade (Military Unit 90600), which accounts for 2,277 missing personnel.
**A Shift in Public Sentiment?**
The data also shows a significant shift in public sentiment, with 75% of those submitting requests saying they do not support Russia’s war in Ukraine. This is a stark contrast to the initial widespread support and enthusiasm shown by many Russians for the invasion in 2022. The project has also uncovered that 26% of missing soldiers were under the age of 30, with the youngest reported missing being just 18 years old.
**Russia’s Heavy Toll**
According to Ukraine’s General Staff, Russia has lost over 1 million troops since the start of its invasion – a figure reported for the first time on June 12. The total reported Russian losses stand at 1,000,340 as of that date. This staggering number highlights the devastating toll of Russia’s war in Ukraine.
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