Russian volunteers facing deadly risks in Ukraine conflict

kiev - Russian volunteers who join the military in Ukraine are facing high risks with increasing death toll, according to BBC and Mediazona.

Russian volunteers serving in the military in Ukraine are facing significant risks, as data from BBC and independent Russian news site Mediazona have shown. They have been tracking public information such as obituaries in Russian newspapers and condolences on social media to compile a list of 70,112 unique names of Russian soldiers who have died in Ukraine since the beginning of the conflict. The actual death toll is believed to be much higher, as not all casualties are publicly reported. The organizations have noted a shift in the demographics of the deceased, with volunteers making up the highest percentage in the past month.

Contrary to official reports from Kiev, Moscow, and Western capitals, the numbers provided by BBC and Mediazona offer a more comprehensive and verifiable account of the situation. While the latest figure released by Russia was 5,937 military deaths in September 2022, no updated numbers have been provided since then. On the other hand, Ukraine has reported 639,480 Russian casualties since the invasion began. An anonymous Western intelligence source estimated the Russian death toll to be around 200,000, significantly higher than the figures disclosed by official sources.

In addition to compiling numbers, the news organizations have been able to provide insights into the profiles of the deceased Russian soldiers, categorizing them based on their military status. Daily casualties among volunteers have exceeded 100 since October last year, with older volunteers comprising a significant portion of the deaths. The volunteers, often coming from regions with limited employment opportunities, are deployed in high-risk areas, contributing to the higher mortality rate.

Factors such as inadequate training and substandard equipment have also been highlighted as contributing to the high casualty rate among volunteers. Despite promises of training, many recruits have reported receiving minimal preparation before being deployed. The lack of proper gear further jeopardizes their safety, with some volunteers expressing the need to purchase their own equipment for survival. These challenges underscore the grim reality faced by those who choose to volunteer in the conflict.