Translated with AI
According to the BBC, in conjunction with Mediazona and a team of volunteers, at least 15,000 mobilized Russians have died since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Forty-two percent of these losses occurred in the first year after the announcement of "partial mobilization" in September 2022. The average age of the dead is 35.
The beginning of mobilization
On September 21, 2022, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a "partial mobilization." Formally, only men who had previously served in the army or had military-related specialties were subject to conscription. In practice, those who received summonses included students, men over 60, fathers of many children, the disabled, and sometimes even deceased citizens.
Muscovite Alexey Serov, a Spartak football fan, received his draft notice on September 27, 2022. Despite raising five children and potentially being exempt, he decided to serve. "If I have to go, then I'll go," his wife, Ekaterina, said. He was assigned to the 1430th Regiment, recruited from residents of Moscow and the surrounding region.
The First Months: Chaos and Mortality
By the fall of 2022, it became clear that the Russian army lacked the manpower to hold the extended frontline. The first mobilized units were used as a "patch" for the weakened units.
Medical examinations were often perfunctory or absent altogether. Those with chronic illnesses and disabilities were deemed fully fit for service. The first recorded death of a mobilized soldier occurred on the fifth day after the start of partial mobilization: 40-year-old Boris Shavayev from Ingushetia died on the parade ground from heart problems. A total of 65 mobilized soldiers died in Russia, but the actual number may be higher.
A lack of training, uniforms, and discipline led to incidents. For example, on November 18, 2022, at a tent camp in Omsk, a conscript assaulted an officer and, after being released from a short-term detention, died 85 days later at the front.
Losses at the front
The mobilized troops lacked sufficient combat training. They were used to fill gaps in the front line and in assault operations, which resulted in high casualties.
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First year of mobilization: 6,264 dead, 42% of all mobilized losses.
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January 1, 2023: A HIMARS strike on Makiivka killed 150 Russian soldiers, 147 of whom were conscripts.
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February 2024: an attack on the 36th Motorized Rifle Brigade's formation near Volnovakha and a hit on the awards ceremony of the 155th Marine Brigade near Elenovka.
Social and geographical statistics
In absolute numbers, the largest number of fatalities among mobilized soldiers occurred in Bashkortostan and Tatarstan, and in terms of per 10,000 men, in Buryatia (23 fatalities per 10,000).
In the first days of mobilization, men were taken directly from the streets and workplaces, sometimes without medical examinations and with paperwork backdated. Buryatia became an example of a harsh mobilization model, with widespread complaints from relatives and conscripts.
Life and service of mobilized soldiers
After the initial months of chaos, mobilization became more organized, but preparation remained minimal. Many were sent to the front within days of receiving their summons.
Mobilized soldiers were often forced to sign contracts, otherwise they would be sent to assault units with high mortality rates. Social media and court records confirm that fathers of many children and soldiers with chronic illnesses remained at the front despite their legal right to exemption.
Results of three years
The mobilized forces played a key role in stabilizing the front line and training new officers, but their efforts came at a huge cost. Russia managed to hold the strategically important cities of Vuhledar and Avdiivka in the Donetsk region, but failed to achieve any significant advance.
As of late 2025, mobilization continues: many conscripts remain at the front, and there are no official demobilization plans. The use of conscripts is associated with a high risk of death, insufficient training and psychological strain, as well as legal complications related to contract service.
Conclusion:
Over the course of three years, mobilized Russians became the main human resource of the Russian army, but their service cost them their lives: 15,000 were killed, thousands were wounded, and thousands were psychologically traumatized. Their stories reflect the strategic mistakes of the command and the widespread social upheaval within the country.
