At least 77 Russian contract soldiers have died in battles in Kursk…
At least 77 Russian contract soldiers have died in battles in Kursk Oblast, and more than 30 are still listed as missing — 'Important Stories' and 'Layout'. At least 77 Russian contract soldiers died in the first months of fighting in Kursk Oblast following the start of the Armed Forces of Ukraine's (Ukrainian) offensive on August 6, 2024.
Consensus
- At least 77 Russian conscripts were killed in battles in Kursk Oblast after the Ukrainian military offensive began on August 6, 2024.
- More than 30 conscripts remain missing as of two years after the start of the offensive.
- The search for remains of missing conscripts became possible only after Russian forces advanced to the Ukrainian border.
- Missing conscripts were officially recognized as deceased in 2025, with the last such recognition reported in May 2026.
- Approximately 500 conscripts captured in Kursk Oblast were exchanged between Russia and Ukraine.
- Conscripts were stationed on border positions in Kursk Oblast, including at Oleshnya, Sverdlikovo, and Nikolo-Daryino.
- Conscripts made up between 50% and 85% of personnel on some forward positions.
- The Ukrainian military entered Kursk Oblast in August 2024 and held parts of it for over seven months.
- Russian forces regained control of the area by 2025.
Points of divergence
- The focus is on civilian deaths due to shelling, lack of medical care, and absence of assistance, with the number of civilian fatalities still to be determined. — tg_radiosvoboda
- The focus is on civilian deaths due to shelling and lack of medical care, with the number of civilian fatalities still to be established. — tg_horizontal_russia
- The number of conscripts from Komi was the highest (42 out of 344 verified), followed by more than 10 each from Dagestan, Bashkortostan, YNAO, Altai Krai, Tyumen Oblast, Kabardino-Balkaria, and Krasnoyarsk Krai. — tg_svobodnieslova
- The conscripts who died were from the Republic of Komi, Dagestan, Bashkortostan, Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug, Altai Krai, Tyumen Oblast (not specified), Kabardino-Balkaria, and Kраснодарский край. — tg_moscowtimes_ru
- The mother of a missing conscript stated that her son's body was not found at the Sverdlikovo position and that DNA matching at the Rostov-on-Don center was impossible due to unexploded ordnance and drone activity. — tg_istories_media
Coverage (13 sources)
- At least 77 conscripts died in battles in the Kursk region, more than 30 are still listed as missing — ЭХО / Новости
- «Missing persons». Today marks the anniversary of the invasion of the Kursk region by Ukrainian forces — Радио Свобода
- «Missing persons». Today marks the anniversary of the invasion of the Kursk region by Ukrainian forces — 7х7 — Горизонтальная Россия
- More than 70 conscripts died in Kursk Oblast during the invasion by the Armed Forces of Ukraine — The Moscow Times
- At least 77 conscripts died in battles in the Kursk region after the Ukrainian offensive in 2024 — Дождь
- During the VU offensive in Kursk region in 2024, at least 77 conscripts died — Вёрстка
- In battles under Kursk in 2024, at least 77 Russian conscripts died and 30 went missing. The missing continue to be... — Важные истории
- At least 77 conscripts died during the invasion of the Kursk region by Ukrainian forces — Радио Свобода
- At least 77 conscripts died during the invasion of Kursk Oblast by the Armed Forces of Ukraine — Сибирь.Реалии
- 77 conscripts died on the Kursk region border during the 2024 VU invasion. More than 30 are still listed as missing — Meduza
- At least 77 conscripts died during the VU's advance on the Kursk region in August 2024 — «Important Stories» and «Typesetting». More than 30 more went missing — Новая газета Европа
- At least 77 conscripts died during the invasion of Kursk Oblast by the Armed Forces of Ukraine — Север.Реалии
- At least 77 conscripts died in battles in Kursk Oblast after the Ukrainian offensive in 2024 — Дождь (Telegram)