**Over 109,000 Russian Soldiers Killed in Ukraine Identified by Media Investigation**
A chilling report from Russian independent media outlet Mediazona and the BBC Russian service has confirmed the identities of a staggering 109,625 Russian military personnel killed in Ukraine. The investigation covers the period from February 24, 2022 to May 23, 2025, with at least 2,009 additional soldiers confirmed dead since the last update in early May.
The journalists behind this report note that these numbers are likely a significant underestimation of the actual death toll, as they rely on public sources such as obituaries, social media posts, and memorial community tree-plantings. In fact, volunteers manually enter and verify each record to prevent duplicate entries in the database, highlighting the painstaking effort that goes into compiling this list.
**A Tragic Toll on Russian Forces**
The confirmed death toll now includes 27,000 volunteers, 17,200 recruited prisoners, over 12,000 mobilized soldiers, and more than 5,000 officers. This is a stark reminder of the devastating impact of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, which began three years ago in February 2022.
**Russian Offensive Intensifies**
In recent weeks, Russian troops have stepped up their offensive in Donetsk Oblast, putting pressure on a large Ukrainian pocket between some of the last cities in the region. This has allowed Russia to maintain the initiative on the battlefield since the fall of 2023, after Ukraine’s failed summer counteroffensive.
**Importance of Independent Journalism**
In a world where accurate information is increasingly hard to come by, independent journalism like Mediazona’s investigation is more crucial than ever. By relying on community support rather than paywalls or corporate funding, these journalists are able to maintain their integrity and commitment to the truth.
As they say themselves: “Independent journalism needs a community — not a paywall.”
