An analysis of missing persons data concerning Russian servicemen has indicated a significant upward trend in the proportion of young soldiers reported missing or deceased during the conflict in Ukraine. Data compiled from the “I Want to Find” project, which tracks requests for missing Russian soldiers, analyzed over 200,000 claims, reveals this pattern. The analysis showed that in 2024, soldiers under the age of 25 represented approximately 8.5 percent of all reported cases.
This percentage increased notably following the deployment of Russian recruits to the Kursk border area, reaching 16 percent of missing-soldier claims. The trend continued into subsequent years, with the share of young soldiers estimated at around 13 percent in 2025 and rising again to exceed 15 percent in 2026. Analysts suggest this increasing number is expected to persist.
Concerns have been raised regarding the deployment of Russian citizens to active combat zones shortly after reaching the age of majority. This practice exposes young soldiers to heightened risks of combat casualties. The rising number of casualties among younger personnel has prompted domestic debate within Russia regarding the strategy of utilizing young recruits in military operations and the mechanisms governing the human cost of the war.
The data highlights a growing concentration of reported losses among the younger cohort of Russian soldiers.
Topics: #russian #soldiers #number
