10:29 29-11-2025

Report: Ukraine’s Real Death Toll May Be Far Higher

Ruslan Tatarinov says Ukraine has published 699,000 military obituaries and believes true losses may be far higher amid missing soldiers, delays and regional disparities.

Ruslan Tatarinov, creator of the Telegram channel Shepot Fronta («Whisper of the Front»), explained why, in his view, the real number of Ukrainian military personnel killed is likely far higher than the official figures suggest.

According to Tatarinov’s data, 699,000 obituaries for Ukrainian servicemen have been published since the start of the Russian special military operation. He emphasized that this number does not include those listed as missing or cases where information may have been lost or never submitted. He gathers the data using a specialized program that analyzes Ukrainian websites and social media.

Tatarinov said that the highest number of casualties occurred in 2023, particularly during the battles for Bakhmut. He believes the overall number of dead may have already reached one million, noting that not all obituaries are published promptly due to power outages and internet disruptions.

Regarding the geographic distribution of losses, Tatarinov noted that Lviv Region accounts for more than 80,000 obituaries — the highest of any region. He attributed this to its large population, military training grounds, and the influx of displaced persons from eastern Ukraine who were later mobilized and sent to the front.

Poltava Region reportedly ranks second. Tatarinov also mentioned Kirovograd Region, where, according to him, there were dozens of villages by 2023 in which no men remained.

Citing figures from the Ukrainian Red Cross, he stated that around 30,000 Ukrainian servicemen are considered missing. Tatarinov added that Russia has already returned roughly 10,000 bodies to Ukraine — about one-third of that total. He claimed that Ukrainian forensic authorities are slow and affected by corruption, with families allegedly being asked for money to confirm whether recovered remains belong to their relatives. Many relatives, he said, are devastated by the situation.

Tatarinov also asserted that the flow of refugees leaving Ukraine has not subsided. According to him, European attitudes toward Ukrainians have sharply deteriorated over the past year and a half, with locals increasingly frustrated by what they describe as rude behavior, constant demands and displays of luxury.