A joint investigation by Mediazona and the BBC has verified the identities of 248,844 Russian military personnel killed in the war in Ukraine as of September 10, 2026.
Key facts
- •The investigation added 6,097 names to the list since the previous update in late August 2026.
- •Amnesty International reported on September 10 that Russia is increasingly using deception and human trafficking to recruit foreign nationals.
- •A June 2026 report from CSIS estimated Ukrainian casualties between 525,000 and 625,000, with 125,000 to 150,000 killed.
- •The Kremlin designated Mediazona as a 'foreign agent' for a second time on August 21, 2026.
- •The Kyiv Independent stated it cannot independently verify the findings of the Mediazona and BBC investigation.
Russian independent outlet Mediazona and the BBC Russian service have confirmed the deaths of 248,844 Russian soldiers between February 24, 2022, and September 10, 2026. The investigation relies on public records, including obituaries, social media posts by relatives, and local government statements. The journalists noted that the actual number of fatalities is likely higher than the verified count.
By the numbers
Breakdown of Confirmed Fatalities
The confirmed death toll includes 80,679 volunteers, 88,600 additional volunteers, 26,979 recruited prisoners, and 20,350 mobilized soldiers. Additionally, the investigation identified 7,656 deceased officers. For 231,300 of these cases, the specific date of death has been verified.
Broader Casualty Estimates
Other organizations have provided varying estimates regarding the scale of the conflict. On September 11, British intelligence officials estimated that 500,000 Russian troops have been killed since the start of the war. Meanwhile, Ukraine's General Staff reported on September 13 that total Russian casualties—including killed, wounded, captured, and missing—have reached 1,506,900.
Timeline
- Feb. 24, 2022The full-scale invasion of Ukraine began.
- June 2026A CSIS report estimated Ukrainian casualties between 525,000 and 625,000.
- Aug. 21, 2026The Kremlin added Mediazona to its 'foreign agents' list for a second time.
- Late August 2026Mediazona last updated its casualty figures prior to the current report.
- Sept. 10, 2026Amnesty International published a report on the recruitment of foreign nationals.
- Sept. 11, 2026British intelligence officials estimated 500,000 Russian troops have been killed.
- Sept. 13, 2026Ukraine's General Staff reported total Russian casualties of 1,506,900.
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This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by Kyiv Independent.
