Russia discreetly purchases 230k commemorative certificates for fallen heroes’ families. Limited edition & exclusive memento dedicated to honor their sacrifice.
Russian Authorities Order 230,000 Certificates for Deceased Veterans, Indicating High Death Toll in Ukraine War
Russian authorities have quietly ordered 230,000 certificates for family members of deceased veterans, providing a rare glimpse into the scale of the death toll from Moscow’s involvement in the 19-month-old war in Ukraine. Independent Russian-language news outlet, Verstka, discovered that Russia’s Ministry of Labor and Social Development had placed the order, inadvertently revealing the potential extent of losses among Russia’s military.
Insight into the Scale of Losses
The revelation of the order for 230,000 certificates sheds light on the number of casualties Russia may have suffered in the war in Ukraine. Despite Russia claiming that only a few thousand of its soldiers were killed in the “special military operation,” the indirect numbers revealed through the certificate orders provide a clearer picture. Anton Gerashchenko, an adviser to Ukraine’s minister of internal affairs, highlighted this information in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
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The Extent of the Order
According to Verstka’s report, the Ministry of Labor and Social Development has ordered over 750,000 certificates for combat veterans and 230,000 certificates specifically for family members of deceased veterans. These figures provide an indirect indication of the approximate scale of Russian losses in the war. Since the beginning of the conflict in Ukraine, more than 900,000 combat veterans’ certificates have been ordered, further highlighting the significant toll of the war.
Verification Required
While Verstka has uncovered these figures, they have not been independently verified by Newsweek. Newsweek has reached out to Russia’s Defense Ministry via email for comment on this matter. Verification is essential to establish the accuracy of the numbers and provide a more comprehensive understanding of the situation.
Escalating Death Toll
The death toll for Russian forces continues to rise as Ukraine launches a counteroffensive to recapture its occupied territories. Kyiv’s military has reported that over 270,000 Russian troops have been “liquidated” in the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Ongoing Reporting by Ukraine’s General Staff
The General Staff of Ukraine’s Armed Forces regularly updates figures on Russia’s troop and equipment losses. According to their reports, Moscow lost 520 soldiers in the past 24 hours, contributing to a total of 273,460 casualties among Russian troops.
Varied Estimates
Estimates of casualty figures vary, with Kyiv’s figures typically exceeding those of its Western allies. Russia itself rarely discloses information about its troop losses. In September 2022, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu stated that 5,937 Russian troops had been killed since February 24, 2022.
Ukraine also avoids publishing casualty figures for its own forces, but Western intelligence estimates suggest that they have also faced substantial losses. In April, a leaked U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency assessment stated that Kyiv had suffered 124,500-131,000 casualties, including 15,500-17,500 fatalities and 109,000-113,500 wounded.
Seeking Inputs and Queries
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