Over 11K Foreign Fighters Killed in Ukraine – Rosstat Leaks

Nov. 12, 2026 Russian military personnel pass by damaged vehicles in the Russian-controlled Ukrainian town of Oleshky. Russian Defense Ministry / Reuters More than 11,000 foreign nationals fighting for Russia have been killed in the four and a half years of war in Ukraine, according to leaked records from the state statistics agency Rosstat reviewed by Bloomberg. The data is part of last month’s cyberattack by Belarusian and Ukrainian hacker groups on Rosstat, which revealed that more than 450,000 Russians have been killed since the 2022 invasion. The foreign deaths were recorded between Feb. 24, 2022, and late August 2026, according to Bloomberg. Of the 11,335 foreign fatalities, just over 6,000 of those killed were born outside Russia but had obtained Russian citizenship prior to their deaths. Moscow offers fast-track naturalization in exchange for military service. Around 3,700 of the dead were Ukrainian citizens or were born in post-Soviet Ukraine, with most of them living in Russian-occupied eastern and southern Ukraine. Around 80% of the remaining fatalities came from other former Soviet states, particularly in Central Asia. Outside those countries, Rosstat data offers a glimpse into Russia’s recruitment efforts in developing nations over the years. Nepal accounted for a high concentration of deaths between 2023 and 2024, Sri Lanka and China in 2024-25 and then Colombia, Kenya and Nigeria from late 2025. The overall yearly foreign death toll increased more than eightfold from 630 in 2022 to more than 5,500 in 2025. Nearly 99% of the recorded foreign military deaths were men. Of the 159 women killed, 154 were residents of Russian-occupied parts of Ukraine. The true number of foreign casualties is believed to be higher than 11,335, but Rosstat’s leaked database excludes incomplete records for 2026 due to delays in registering combat deaths. Additionally, it does not include missing soldiers or North Korean troops who were deployed to assist Russian forces. Ukrainian officials estimate Russia has recruited between 28,000 and 46,000 foreign fighters from at least 59 countries. Read more about: Ukraine war , Defense Ministry Sign up for our free weekly newsletter Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy We sent a confirmation to your email. Please confirm your subscription. A Message from The Moscow Times: Dear readers, We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent." These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia. We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help. Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact. By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us. Once Monthly Annual Continue Not ready to support today? Remind me later. × Remind me next month Remind me Thank you! Your reminder is set. We will send you one reminder email a month from now. For details on the personal data we collect and how it is used, please see our Privacy Policy. Read more News Analysis ‘Hidden Mobilization?’: What Russia’s New Reservist Law Could Mean for the War in Ukraine Putin has signed legislation allowing reservists to be sent to “special training” to protect critical infrastructure. What does that mean? 4 Min read Russia Sends Reinforcements to Embattled Border Region Military-affiliated media reported that tanks, rocket launcher systems and artillery were among the forces being deployed in the Kursk region. 2 Min read Russia Declares Federal Emergency Amid Battle in Kursk Region The Russian military said it continued to fend off the incursion, claiming to have killed 280 Ukrainian troops over the past 24 hours. 2 Min read Russia Border Regions Report Power Cuts After Ukraine Attacks Both sides have used drones, including larger self-detonating craft with ranges stretching hundreds of kilometers, extensively throughout the war. 2 Min read