Russia’s State Statistics Service has excluded the total number of deaths from external causes in its annual report, Meduza reported, citing demographic expert Aleksei Rashka. Russia has historically broken down annual deaths caused by illness from those caused by external factors like murder and suicide. Experts would have been able to use that data to extrapolate the number of Russians killed in the invasion of Ukraine, something the Kremlin has refused to disclose. U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said last month that at least 350,000 Russian troops have been killed or wounded in the 29-month war. News outlets have confirmed at least 58,000 Russian soldier deaths using obituaries, inheritance records, and social media posts. To read the full story by RFE/RL's Russian service, click here.
Russia's Statistics Service Excludes Data From Annual Report To Hide War Deaths
Editors' Picks
RFE/RL has been declared an "undesirable organization" by the Russian government.
If you are in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine and hold a Russian passport or are a stateless person residing permanently in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine, please note that you could face fines or imprisonment for sharing, liking, commenting on, or saving our content, or for contacting us.
To find out more, click here.