Report Uncovers Leading Cause of Death Among Russian Troops

A recent survey conducted by military doctors has disclosed that nearly three-quarters of Russian soldiers' fatalities are attributed to a singular cause. The findings, reported by the independent Russian news outlet Vyorstka and noted in the Military Medical Journal, highlight the deadly nature of modern armed conflicts.

According to Newsweek, the study examined fatal injuries sustained by Russian military personnel, focusing on both those killed on the battlefield and those who died before reaching medical facilities. The results indicate that 74.5 percent of deaths were caused by explosions. The report also provided a breakdown of other causes of death, with gunshot wounds from small arms accounting for 14.7 percent, predominantly from single wounds (83.7 percent).

Additional statistics revealed that thermal injuries and blunt trauma each accounted for just over four percent of fatalities. Other reported causes included stab injuries, asphyxia, drowning, poisoning, and medical conditions such as heart failure. The Russian Defense Ministry has yet to respond to inquiries regarding the report.

While Vyorstka’s findings do not explicitly reference the ongoing Russia’s war against Ukraine, the authors discuss injuries resulting from M30A1 missiles, which have been deployed by Ukrainian forces using US-supplied HIMARS (High Mobility Artillery Rocket System). The report notes that these weapons have a significant destructive capability, leading to combined injuries that affect multiple organs, thereby increasing fatality rates.

As of today, Ukrainian estimates reported 1,380 Russian troop losses within a single day, bringing the total casualties, including both dead and injured, to approximately 677,180 since the onset of the war. Ukrainian authorities have observed a marked increase in Russian troop losses over the past two months. Estimates from the British Ministry of Defense suggest that daily casualties have averaged 1,271 in September amid intensified fighting across various fronts.

Currently, UK assessments indicate that Russia has sustained around 550,000 casualties and predicts that losses may exceed 1,000 daily through the winter months. Conversely, Russia has not updated its reported troop losses since September 2022, when it acknowledged nearly 6,000 deaths.