The ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine has caused the death and displacement of many civilians and servicemen in both countries. As the conflict continues, it is important to understand how many Russians have lost their lives during the duration of the war. This article will provide an overview of the Russian deaths in Ukraine and the context in which such losses have occurred.
Background on the War Between Russia and Ukraine
The war between Russia and Ukraine began in 2014 when Russian troops moved into Ukraine’s eastern provinces of Donetsk and Luhansk. This led to the annexation of Crimea, a peninsula of Ukraine owned by Russia since 1783. The war has been characterised by both sides using heavy artillery and military operations to gain and maintain control of the areas in Ukraine near the Russian border.
Civilian Casualties Among Russians
The conflict has taken its toll on the civilians in Ukraine. According to the UN’s Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), 8,000 people have been killed since the start of the conflict. Of this number, it is estimated that approximately 3,800 of them have been Russian. The majority of these civilian deaths have occurred in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Ukraine, suggesting a greater Russian presence due to the conflict.
An additional 1.5 million people have been forced to leave their homes due to the ongoing violence, the majority of them being Ukrainian. However, hundreds of thousands of Russian nationals have also been affected, with the United Nations estimating that between 250,000 and 600,000 Russians have been displaced from their homes.
Military Casualties Among Russians
It is difficult to determine the exact number of Russian servicemen lost in the war due to the Russian government’s policy of not disclosing such figures. Nevertheless, there have been reports of the deaths of Russian forces. A 2018 report by the Freeybee Committee, an independent non-governmental organisation monitoring the war in eastern Ukraine, estimated that more than 1,400 Russian servicemen had been killed during the conflict.
The Russian government continues to deny that any of its soldiers are fighting in eastern Ukraine and insists that any Russian nationals in the area are “volunteers”. It has also been alleged by Human Rights Watch that Russian servicemen have been ordered to conceal their identities and remain hidden after death in order to avoid giving any record of their presence and casualties in Ukraine.
Casualties Among Pro-Russian Separatists
The pro-Russian separatists who are fighting for the independence of eastern Ukraine from the rest of the country are estimated to have suffered over 5,000 deaths since the beginning of the conflict. Most of these casualties come from the Donetsk and Luhansk Workers’ Republics which, while not officially recognised by the international community, are self-declared states supported by Russia.
The Impact of the War
The war in Ukraine has resulted in devastating consequences for both sides. In addition to the staggering loss of life among Russians, the conflict has caused a crisis in the local economy, with consumer prices going up and hundreds of thousands of people becoming unemployed.
The war has also had a profound effect on social cohesion in the region. The UN’s Humanitarian Coordinator for Ukraine report suggests that the conflict has caused sectarian divisions between pro-Russia and pro-Ukraine groups, with increasing hostility leading to clashes between armed groups on both sides.
The war between Russia and Ukraine has had a devastating impact on both sides, with statistics showing that a large number of Russians have been killed in the conflict. Although the exact number of casualties is difficult to verify, it is estimated that up to 3,800 Russian civilians and 1,400 Russian servicemen have lost their lives in Ukraine since the start of the war. Furthermore, hundreds of thousands of Russians have been forced to leave their homes and find refuge in other parts of Ukraine or Russia. As the war continues, the extent of the impact on the Russian people remains to be seen.