Ukraine war: number of fatalities on the Russian side becomes a problem for Putin

Created: 02/03/2022 23:23

By: Tanja Koch

Apparently, Russian soldiers expected Ukraine to welcome them with open arms.

Instead, they faced strong resistance.

(Iconic image) © DANIEL LEAL/AFP

Russia is trying to cover up how many soldiers actually died in the Ukraine war.

But more and more information is reaching relatives. 

According to the Russian Ministry of Defense in Moscow, 498 Russian soldiers have been killed in the Ukraine war so far.

1,597 soldiers were injured, the ministry said on Wednesday (03/02/2022).

These are the first official figures from Russia* since the beginning of the war on Thursday (February 24, 2022) last week. 

On Sunday (February 27, 2022) the spokesman for the ministry Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov admitted for the first time that there were "fallen and wounded" Russian troops, as quoted by the New York Times.

However, he did not share numbers.

The information that has now been announced contradicts the figures from the Ukrainian authorities.

This had so far indicated more than 5840 killed Russian soldiers.

More than 200 tanks, 860 other military vehicles, 30 airplanes and 31 helicopters have been destroyed since the beginning of the war.

A voice message also gives an indication of the extent of Russia's military losses in the Ukraine war.

Many Russian casualties in the Ukraine war could become a problem for Putin

The high number of soldiers killed in the Ukraine war could deprive Vladimir Putin* of the remaining support from the Russian population.

When Russia annexed Crimea in 2014, Putin tried to cover up the 400 fallen soldiers. 

"Given the many reports of more than 4,000 Russian soldiers killed, it is clear that something dramatic is afoot," the New York Times quoted Admiral James G. Stavridis, former NATO commander-in-chief.

"If Russian casualties are so high, Vladimir Putin will have trouble explaining himself at home."

Rep. Adam B. Schiff, a California Democrat and chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, added: "There's going to be a lot of Russians coming home in body bags and a lot of Russian families that are going to mourn -- the longer this happens." lasts, the more.”

Soldier mothers in Russia should be informed about the Ukraine war

Ukraine recently launched a website where it posts photos of fallen Russian soldiers to counter Putin's disinformation campaign in Russia and educate Russian families about the Ukraine conflict*.

In addition, the Ambassador of Ukraine* to the United Nations, Sergiy Kyslytsya, read out a text message sent by a soldier to his mother: “We were told that they would welcome us, but they fall under our armored vehicles, throw themselves under the wheels and won't let us pass,” he wrote, according to Kyslytsya.

“They call us fascists.

Mom, this is so hard."

A look into the past shows that such efforts can be successful in Russia.

According to historian Julie Elken, activism by soldiers' mothers already influenced how public perception of past military offensives was concerned.

(Tanja Koch with dpa)