Russia is systematically recording dead occupiers as missing in action
The Russian military command is concealing the true extent of its personnel losses by categorizing large numbers of fallen soldiers as missing in action. Relatives of the occupiers who are trying to find out the fate of their loved ones are allegedly being intimidated with criminal charges and the denial of social benefits.
According to the partisan movement, in the Russian Federation’s 64th Separate Guards Motorized Rifle Brigade, which is fighting near Huliaipole in the Zaporizhzhia region, the number of soldiers officially recognized as missing in action already runs into the thousands.
According to agents of the movement, who allegedly work at one of the Russian military headquarters, Brigade Commander Dmitry Shabaev is ignoring numerous appeals from the soldiers’ relatives.
“Brigade Commander Dmitry Shabaev systematically ignores the numerous statements, requests, and protests from the wives and mothers of soldiers who are trying to find out the fate of their loved ones,” the statement reads.
The “Atesh” movement claims that since Dmitry Shabaev was appointed brigade commander in 2025, the unit has suffered significant losses.
According to the partisans, fallen soldiers are often officially listed as missing in action to conceal the true extent of the Russian army’s losses.
In addition, they say that the mothers and wives of soldiers are subjected to psychological pressure, with threats of criminal prosecution for allegedly “discrediting” the army and the denial of due benefits if they continue their searches.
As an example, the movement cited a strike by the Ukrainian Defense Forces on the “Primorsky Posad” training ground in the temporarily occupied territory of Zaporizhzhia Oblast, carried out on May 30, 2026.
According to “Atesh,” the 64th Separate Guards Motorized Rifle Brigade lost at least 31 servicemen in that attack, and the command promptly listed 13 of them as missing in action.
The report also notes that this brigade is implicated in investigations into war crimes committed by Russian troops in Bucha.
The organization stated that it continues to document information about Russian commanders believed to be involved in concealing casualties and exerting pressure on the families of servicemen.
“We continue to record data on all commanders responsible for concealing actual casualties and pressuring the relatives of service members. Information regarding Dmytro Shabaev and officers of the brigade has been added to our databases and forwarded to the relevant agencies,” “Atesh” emphasized.
This was reported on the Telegram channel of “Atesh,” a military movement of Ukrainians and Crimean Tatars.
