An investigative report by the independent Russian outlet Mediazona, in cooperation with the BBC's Russian Service and a group of volunteers, has confirmed the deaths of 258,989 Russian soldiers in Ukraine by name. This data, updated as of September 21, 2026, was reported by the Kyiv Independent.
This recent increase is particularly striking: between September 11 and 21, over 10,145 names were added in less than two weeks, nearly doubling the usual rate. According to Mediazona, this surge was largely due to a leaked list of bodies exchanged between Russia and Ukraine, whose names were only included in the count after independent verification through official records.
The researchers caution that the actual number of deaths is likely much higher, as their methodology relies exclusively on verifiable open sources: obituaries, social media posts by family members, reports from regional Russian media, and statements from local authorities.
Estimating the True Death Toll
To provide a more comprehensive estimate, Mediazona and the exiled Russian outlet Meduza developed a statistical method based on excess male mortality using data from the Russian Inheritance Registry. This estimate, updated in May 2026 with data through the end of December 2025, places the real death toll at approximately 352,000, significantly higher than the nearly 259,000 confirmed by name.
Among the detailed data from the count, Mediazona confirmed the deaths of 7,692 officers from the Russian army and other security agencies. The proportion of officers among total casualties has steadily declined: at the start of the war, they accounted for up to 10% of the fatalities; by November 2024, this figure had dropped to between 2% and 3%, reflecting the massive recruitment of volunteer infantry, who suffer much higher mortality rates than their commanders.
High-Profile Military Losses
The count also includes the deaths of 15 Russian generals: five lieutenant generals, seven major generals, and two retired generals. The most recent was Lieutenant General Alexander Otroschenko, commander of the mixed aviation corps of the Northern Fleet, who died on March 31, 2026, in an An-26 plane crash in Crimea.
Regarding mobilized soldiers, the count records about 20,500 deaths, a figure Mediazona acknowledges as a severe underestimate: recent obituaries rarely mention recruitment details, complicating the identification of those called up. The update coincided with the fourth anniversary of the "partial mobilization" decreed by Vladimir Putin on September 21, 2022.
The Ongoing Conflict
The immediate war context exacerbates the situation. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated on Sunday that his forces had killed or wounded 10,660 Russian soldiers in the previous week, according to a report from Commander-in-Chief Mykhailo Drapatyi, in the framework of Ukrainian offensive operations in the Lyman sector of the Donetsk region.
Cuba's Involvement
This conflict also has a direct connection to Cuba: at least 93 Cuban citizens have died fighting for Russia, while Havana remains silent and Moscow forgets them.
Amnesty International has accused Russia of recruiting Cubans through deceit and coercion, sending them to the front lines with barely weeks of preparation.
The Ukrainian General Staff estimated on Sunday that Russia has accumulated 1,528,970 personnel losses since the start of the large-scale invasion on February 24, 2022, a figure that does not distinguish between dead, wounded, missing, or captured.
As highlighted by the Kyiv Independent, "casualty estimates vary widely, and neither Russia nor Ukraine publishes complete and independently verifiable military figures."
Relevant Questions about Russian Military Casualties in Ukraine
How many Russian soldiers have been confirmed dead in Ukraine?
According to an investigative report, 258,989 Russian soldiers have been confirmed dead by name in Ukraine as of September 21, 2026.
What methods were used to estimate the total number of Russian military deaths?
Mediazona and Meduza used a statistical method based on excess male mortality data from the Russian Inheritance Registry to estimate the total number of deaths at approximately 352,000.
What is the significance of the decline in the proportion of Russian officer casualties?
The decline in the proportion of officer casualties, from up to 10% at the war's start to 2-3% by November 2024, indicates a shift towards the recruitment of volunteer infantry, who face higher mortality rates.
How is Cuba connected to the conflict in Ukraine?
Cuba is connected to the conflict through the deaths of at least 93 Cuban citizens who fought for Russia, with accusations of coercive recruitment by Russia.