Report: Over 50,000 Russian Casualties in Ukrainian Conflict's 'Meat Grinder'

 

Research indicates that Russian military casualties in the conflict with Ukraine have surpassed 50,000. The BBC, whose Russian division has meticulously tracked fatalities since Moscow's forces entered Ukraine in February 2022, disclosed this figure on Wednesday, highlighting an escalation in casualties during the conflict's second year.

 

Collaborating with independent media group Mediazona and volunteers, BBC Russian compiled data revealing a staggering toll of 27,300 Russian soldiers lost in the second year alone, marking a 25 percent surge compared to the preceding year. Russia's official report in September 2022 acknowledged fewer than 6,000 military deaths.

 

The research attributes the intensified casualty rate to Moscow's adoption of "meat grinder" tactics, notably prevalent in the latter phase of the conflict. The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) underscores the degradation of battlefield strategies, observing a shift towards frontal assaults and wave tactics as the eastern Ukrainian front stagnated in 2023.

 

During major offensives in Donetsk and the subsequent battle for Bakhmut, Russian losses spiked, with an estimated two in five casualties lacking prior military experience, drawn from volunteer ranks, civilians, and prisoners. Analysis indicates that approximately 9,000 prisoners, enlisted by outfits like Wagner or directly by the Ministry of Defence, perished within two to three months of recruitment.

 

Acknowledging its data's limitations, the BBC notes the absence of militia casualties in Donetsk and Luhansk, suggesting the actual death toll likely exceeds 50,000. Ukraine reported 31,000 military losses in February, a figure presumed conservative.

 

In response, the Kremlin reiterated its policy of non-disclosure regarding military casualties, citing national security regulations governing Russia's "special military operation" in Ukraine. Dmitry Peskov, a spokesman, emphasized the defense ministry's discretion on such matters, asserting legal constraints on divulging information.