In Russia, the classification of statistics as confidential has led to the distortion of data on mortality and crime

In Russia, the classification of demographic statistics has forced government agencies to rely on outdated data to calculate key socioeconomic indicators. As a result, mortality, morbidity, and crime rate figures are distorted.

This was reported by the Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine.

“Russia has become so obsessed with classifying statistics that it can no longer properly assess its own problems. After the government removed population data from public access in 2025, government agencies began calculating morbidity, mortality, and even crime rates using outdated figures,” the report states.

The intelligence report notes that due to the lack of up-to-date information, the Russian authorities have effectively lost the ability to objectively assess the situation in the regions.

In particular, without new population data, it is impossible to accurately determine where the number of patients is increasing, how many doctors the regions need, how the crime situation is changing, and what the actual mortality rate is.

Currently, Russian officials have access only to annual average data for 2024 and statistics as of January 1, 2025. At the same time, the authorities have not yet released the information as of January 1, 2026, which is necessary for accurate calculations.

As a result, the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs is already calculating traffic fatality rates based on outdated demographic indicators, while the AIDS Center is assessing the spread of HIV based on data from early 2025.

The Foreign Intelligence Service emphasizes that the longer the Kremlin conceals demographic information, the more “paper-based” Russian statistics will become.

According to intelligence estimates, in some regions the gap between actual figures and “frozen” calculations has already reached 15–17%.

The report also notes that Russia is gradually losing the ability to realistically assess how many people remain in the country and what is happening to them.