More than 3,500 foreigners recruited into the Russian Armed Forces have been neutralized in Ukraine
At least 3,589 foreigners have died fighting on Russia’s side during the full-scale war against Ukraine. Journalists from the BBC’s Russian Service reached these conclusions after analyzing open sources and conducting their own investigation.
At the same time, the journalists emphasize that the actual death toll is likely much higher, as not all cases can be documented.
At least 3,589 citizens of other countries have died fighting as part of the Russian army since the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. These figures were released by the BBC’s Russian Service, which, together with the publication “Mediazona” and a team of volunteers, maintains a list of the names of Russian military personnel who have died. Researchers emphasize that these are only confirmed cases that could be verified through open sources. These include reports from local authorities, posts by relatives on social media, and photographs of military memorials and cemeteries. The actual losses, according to the journalists, may be significantly higher.
Currently, the researchers’ database contains over 233,000 Russian soldiers whose identities have been confirmed. Among them are 1,285 individuals who are citizens of other countries, whose deaths have been documented. Another 2,304 of the deceased are North Korean soldiers who, according to the journalists, fought on Russia’s side during the Ukrainian forces’ operation in the Kursk region in August 2024. They were identified after analyzing satellite imagery and photographs of a new military memorial in Pyongyang. This is why the total number of foreign casualties exceeded three and a half thousand.
The journalists specifically emphasize that they did not use data from the Ukrainian side or estimates from Western intelligence agencies. All figures are based solely on information they were able to verify independently. As a result, the actual number of foreign casualties may be much higher. The total number of citizens from other countries who are currently fighting or have already fought as part of the Russian army also remains unknown. It is not yet possible to determine this figure completely.
According to the journalists, the scheme for recruiting foreigners has changed throughout the war. In 2022–2023, Russia actively recruited people through penal colonies and prisons. By 2024–2025, the focus had shifted to recruiting citizens from Asia, Africa, and Latin America, who were offered large payments and Russian citizenship. Since mid-2025, as the study’s authors note, pressure has also intensified on migrant workers from former Soviet states. It is these individuals who are increasingly swelling the ranks of the Russian army.
NATO has also drawn attention to the scale of this practice. According to a senior NATO official, there may be as many as 24,000 foreign mercenaries from 44 countries fighting in the Russian forces. The majority of them, according to the Alliance’s estimates, are from African countries. This indicates that Moscow is increasingly seeking manpower outside its own borders.
Russia officially reports almost nothing about its casualties. The last time the Russian Ministry of Defense released such data was back in September 2022, when it reported 5,937 military fatalities. At the same time, independent journalists consider these figures to be long outdated. In May, the publications “Meduza” and “Mediazona,” using statistical methods and lists of names, estimated the total losses of the Russian army as of the end of 2025 at approximately 352,000 dead. This estimate includes both confirmed deaths and cases established through court documents or registration records.
“The actual casualty figures for foreign nationals who fought against Ukraine as part of Russian forces are much higher,” the study’s authors emphasize. “In compiling this list, we did not use data from the Ukrainian side or estimates from Western intelligence agencies,” noted BBC journalists, explaining their methodology. This was reported by the BBC’s Russian Service.
In addition, on the night of July 8, attack drones of the Ukrainian Defense Forces struck a military airfield in Borisoglebsk, Voronezh Oblast, Russia. This airbase is home to aircraft of the Russian Aerospace Forces, which are used for both combat and training missions.
Over the past day, the Ukrainian Defense Forces have reduced the Russian army’s ranks by another 1,260 soldiers. The General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces released updated data on enemy losses as of July 8, also reporting the destruction of a significant amount of enemy equipment.
