Moscow: Deputy Defence Minister Anna Tsivilyova revealed that 48,000 relatives of Russian soldiers have submitted DNA samples to help identify remains of missing troops. The statement came during a round-table discussion on November 26, highlighting the toll of Russia’s ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
This sensitive information spurred a warning from Andrei Kartapolov, head of parliament’s defense committee, who urged caution about making such data public. “This is classified information, quite sensitive. We don’t want these numbers floating around anywhere,” Kartapolov stated, as captured in a video published by the independent news site Astra.
A Glimpse into the Human Cost of War
Russia has refrained from officially disclosing its military losses since the early months of the invasion launched in February 2022. Western analysts estimate hundreds of thousands of casualties on both sides in what has become Europe’s deadliest conflict since World War II.
At the meeting, Tsivilyova clarified: “I didn’t give the numbers of missing people but the number of requests to us. Many of them will be found. So this number is specifically requests, not data.” She also confirmed that DNA samples were submitted free of charge to an interior ministry database.
The Astra video, initially streamed on the State Duma’s website, has since been removed. Reuters sought comment from the Russian defence ministry, which did not respond immediately.
Conflicting Casualty Estimates
Independent outlets Mediazona and the BBC Russian service have verified the deaths of 79,819 Russian soldiers in Ukraine as of November 19, based on open-source data. Meanwhile, the Wall Street Journal, citing Western intelligence, suggested the death toll for Russian troops could be as high as 200,000.
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On the Ukrainian side, The Economist estimated between 60,000 and 100,000 fatalities, with an additional 400,000 soldiers injured, rendering many unable to return to combat. Analysts believe Russia has suffered higher casualties but retains a manpower advantage due to its larger population.
