麻豆社

While Russia鈥檚 president continues to insist that his, 鈥渟pecial military operation鈥� in Ukraine is succeeding, the estimated number of Russian soldiers killed and wounded in this war tells another story; 1.4 million casualties since February 2022. For that loss, Russia has gained just 2% of Ukraine鈥檚 land.

This is the story Vladimir Putin is not telling Russians. Amid parliamentary elections this past weekend, the Kremlin has claimed that most Russians back the president and the war, and it has promoted the political careers of thousands of soldiers back from Ukraine.

But what of their fallen comrades? The 麻豆社鈥檚 Olga Ivshina has dedicated the last four years of her career to not just counting Russia鈥檚 true death toll, but building a picture of who these lost men were. She joins us on today鈥檚 show.

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Photo: Russian soldiers who were involved in the country's military campaign in Ukraine march during a military parade on Victory Day in central Moscow, Russia, May 2026. Credit: Sputnik/Dmitry Astakhov/Pool via Reuters