Open-source tally confirms 168,142 Russian casualties in Ukraine

A joint open-source investigation by Mediazona and the BBC Russian service confirms 168,142 Russian military fatalities in Ukraine, adding 4,536 names since mid‑January; researchers caution the true toll is likely higher and note the breakdown includes about 54,600 volunteers, 20,200 recruited prisoners, 17,400 mobilized soldiers, and 6,353 officers. Official figures from Moscow are rare, while Western and Ukrainian estimates suggest casualties far exceed 1 million when accounting for killed, wounded, and missing; the identification list draws from obituaries, relatives’ posts, regional media, and local authorities.