Over the past 10 months, Russian losses in the war with Ukraine have been growing faster than at any time since the start of the full-scale invasion in 2022, BBC analysis suggests. As peace efforts intensified in 2025 under pressure from US President Donald Trump's administration, 40% more obituaries of soldiers were published in Russian sources compared with the previous year.
Overall, the BBC has confirmed the names of almost 160,000 people killed fighting on Russia's side in Ukraine. BBC News Russian has been counting Russian war losses alongside independent outlet Mediazona and a group of volunteers since February 2022. They maintain a list of named individuals whose deaths they have confirmed through official reports, newspapers, social media, and new memorials and graves.
The real death toll is believed to be much higher, with military experts estimating that the reported figures might represent 45-65% of the true number. This suggests Russian deaths could be as high as between 243,000 and 352,000.
Recent months have seen fluctuations in reported obituaries, starting with relatively low numbers in January before rising sharply in February during talks between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin regarding potential peace solutions. Another spike occurred in August, coinciding with a diplomatic meeting in Alaska, while the overall rise culminated in November amidst the presentation of a substantial US peace proposal.
Kremlin insiders believe recent territorial gains have positively influenced negotiations with the US. Yet, the increase in casualties cannot be attributed to a single factor. Many of the Russian soldiers now dying in combat had no military background before the conflict, indicating a higher reliance on 'volunteer' recruits—those who chose to join the military amid the war's escalation.
Local governments are under pressure to sustain recruitment, offering substantial financial incentives, particularly to those facing economic hardship, allowing the Kremlin to replenish its ranks without implementing widespread mandatory conscription. Reports suggest that by October 2025, around 336,000 individuals voluntarily signed up, significantly exceeding the number of reported casualties.
With NATO estimating Russian casualties at around 1.1 million, including both dead and wounded, discussions around the human cost on both sides of the conflict highlight the severe ramifications as the war continues without a clear resolution in sight.
Overall, the BBC has confirmed the names of almost 160,000 people killed fighting on Russia's side in Ukraine. BBC News Russian has been counting Russian war losses alongside independent outlet Mediazona and a group of volunteers since February 2022. They maintain a list of named individuals whose deaths they have confirmed through official reports, newspapers, social media, and new memorials and graves.
The real death toll is believed to be much higher, with military experts estimating that the reported figures might represent 45-65% of the true number. This suggests Russian deaths could be as high as between 243,000 and 352,000.
Recent months have seen fluctuations in reported obituaries, starting with relatively low numbers in January before rising sharply in February during talks between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin regarding potential peace solutions. Another spike occurred in August, coinciding with a diplomatic meeting in Alaska, while the overall rise culminated in November amidst the presentation of a substantial US peace proposal.
Kremlin insiders believe recent territorial gains have positively influenced negotiations with the US. Yet, the increase in casualties cannot be attributed to a single factor. Many of the Russian soldiers now dying in combat had no military background before the conflict, indicating a higher reliance on 'volunteer' recruits—those who chose to join the military amid the war's escalation.
Local governments are under pressure to sustain recruitment, offering substantial financial incentives, particularly to those facing economic hardship, allowing the Kremlin to replenish its ranks without implementing widespread mandatory conscription. Reports suggest that by October 2025, around 336,000 individuals voluntarily signed up, significantly exceeding the number of reported casualties.
With NATO estimating Russian casualties at around 1.1 million, including both dead and wounded, discussions around the human cost on both sides of the conflict highlight the severe ramifications as the war continues without a clear resolution in sight.
