An investigation by Ukrainian independent media outlet Mediazona, in collaboration with the BBC Russian service, has identified 177,433 Russian military personnel killed in Ukraine as of February 13. This figure marks an increase of 9,291 names since the last update earlier in the month. The report notes that these verified identities are sourced from public records, including obituaries, social media posts by relatives, and regional media reports. This thorough documentation underscores the substantial human toll of the ongoing conflict.

The report reveals that the casualty numbers are likely underreported, as the verification process relies on publicly available information amidst a lack of transparency from Russian authorities. The casualties include over 57,200 individuals classified as volunteers, 21,400 recruited prisoners, and 17,000 mobilized soldiers. Additionally, among the deceased are 6,414 confirmed officers, indicating a significant leadership loss in the military ranks. This increasing toll illustrates the severe losses faced by Russia in the conflict, which appear to be substantial despite governmental silence on the matter.

In contrast to the mounting Russian toll, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has previously estimated at least 55,000 Ukrainian soldiers have died since the conflict reignited. These figures complicate the narrative of the war, demonstrating the grave consequences on both sides. The ongoing investigation by Mediazona and the BBC continues to shed light on the casualties of this conflict, which remains one of the central issues for Ukraine and underlines the need for critical reporting around the human impacts of warfare.