Leaked data from Russia’s state statistics agency indicates more than 400,000 Russian soldiers have been killed in the Ukraine war since the full-scale invasion began nearly five years ago.
Data obtained by two hacking groups and leaked from Rosstat includes over 11 million death certificates, some of which explicitly link fatalities to the war. The information was shared with the Guardian and other media outlets, though Rosstat confirmed the breach but denied sensitive data was obtained.
The dataset provides a detailed view of Russia’s wartime losses, which the government has sought to conceal. British intelligence estimates around 500,000 Russian soldiers have been killed, while an independent Russian outlet identified nearly 286,000 military personnel by name. Experts suggest the true toll may be closer to 500,000 due to delays in recording deaths and unaccounted missing soldiers.
Why it matters
The data highlights the significant human cost of the war on Russian forces, offering a rare glimpse into casualties that Moscow has not officially disclosed.
This section reflects Dumpling editorial interpretation and is provided for context only.
What to watch
The accuracy of the dataset and how it may influence ongoing peace talks in Abu Dhabi will be key next steps.
This section reflects Dumpling editorial interpretation and is provided for context only.