Russia has suffered huge losses in its war with Ukraine. In 2023, more Russian soldiers were killed than in any other year since the full invasion began.
A total of 45,287 soldiers died that year, which is almost three times more than the number who died in the first year of the war. This also includes the intense fighting in the city of Bakhmut, which became one of the bloodiest battles.
At first, soldiers were mostly killed in major battles for key cities. But in 2024, the number of deaths rose steadily every month as Russian forces slowly moved forward along the front line. For every kilometre of land taken from Ukraine, at least 27 Russian soldiers lost their lives.
So far, journalists and volunteers working with BBC Russia and Mediazona have confirmed the names of 106,745 Russian soldiers who have died in the conflict. But experts believe the real number is likely much higher—possibly between 164,000 and 237,000. There was no time in 2024 when the number of deaths noticeably dropped.
Fierce fighting happened in places like Avdiivka and Robotyne, followed by further attacks in areas such as Pokrovsk and Toretsk. The worst period for Russian losses was between September and November 2024. During that time, Russian troops made slow progress in eastern Ukraine but suffered major losses.
US military expert Michael Kofman explained that Russian forces used small groups of soldiers for repeated attacks, which led to many deaths without gaining much ground.
Despite losing so many troops, Russia has managed to increase the size of its army. Mr. Kofman said that more people signed up to join the army in the second half of 2024 than were lost, which helped Russia form new military units.
To attract more recruits, Russia raised the sign-up bonuses in three regions. Soldiers are now being paid five to seven times more than the average local salary. In 2024, the government also introduced a controversial policy that allows people facing criminal charges to avoid jail by joining the army. These volunteers now make up about one in every four confirmed Russian military deaths.
