Russian military casualties: Over 258,000 deaths verified

An investigation by the independent Russian media outlet Mediazona, in collaboration with the BBC, has verified the names of 258,989 fallen Russian military personnel. This count covers the period from February 24, 2022, to September 21, 2026.

The data was compiled using publicly available sources, including obituary notices, social media posts from relatives, regional media reports, and official communications from local authorities. Analysts suggest that actual casualty figures are likely significantly higher than the verified names.

Despite these heavy losses, the Russian military has not reported major territorial gains in Ukraine for several months. Finnish President Alexander Stubb has noted that the Russian leadership, under Vladimir Putin, is unlikely to deviate from its current military course despite economic difficulties and high casualty rates.