De4ths in Russ14, So Saddening to Me

I have been thinking of R4ssian men d41ng by the thousands, and all the generations that have been lost to the terrible war in Ukr41ne.

As of early 2026, multiple analyses, including reports from the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) estimate that

1.2 million R4ssians have been - kill3d, wounded or missing;
325,000 may have been k1ll3d. The average age of R4ssian soldi3rs kill3d in Ukr41ne has risen significantly, from roughly 21–30 years old in early 2022 to approximately 38–40+ years old by late 2024. In 2025, the average age of volunteers and mobilized tr00ps k1ll3d has pushed higher, with some categories reaching 42–52 years.

Findings by the BBC (in a Feb 2026 article) show that the average age of a k1ll3d merc3naries is now 43, with many being sent into high-intensity ass4ult operations just three to five days after signing their contracts.

Analysts point out that residents of small towns and impoverished villages are most likely to sign contracts due to the lack of stable employment and the slowing of the R4ssian econ0my. This has created a vast disparity in the “visibility” of the w4r; in regions like Tuva and Buryatia, the de4th rate per capita is up to 33 times higher than in M0sc0w.

UK Defense Secretary John Healey said R4ssia is losing more troops than it can replace and is increasingly recruiting foreigners, including citizens of Indi4, P4kistan, Nep4l, Cub4, Nigeri4, and Seneg4l, according to Bloomberg on February 16. He added that about 17,000 North Kore4n troops are currently fighting alongside Russi4n forces.

500K to 600K Ukr4ini4ns have been kill3d, wounded or are missing.
100,000 to 140,000 may have di3d.

In other studies...
72,000 have died in G4z4 since October 2023, and it's estimated that over 1000 have starved.