Journalists reported the deaths of at least 77 Russian conscripts during the fighting in the Kursk region
Kyiv • UNN
An investigation found that at least 77 Russian conscripts were killed in the Kursk region in 2024, while more than 30 others went missing. About 500 conscripts passed through prisoner exchanges.
At least 77 Russian conscripts were killed in the first months of fighting in Kursk Oblast during the Ukrainian Armed Forces’ operation in 2024, while more than 30 are still considered missing. This was reported by the Russian outlets "IStories" and "Verstka," as reported by UNN.
Details
According to a journalistic investigation, the conscripts were between 18 and 25 years old at the time of their deaths, with most of them being 20 years old. The authors of the report note that some of the servicemen who currently have missing-person status may later be officially declared dead. The last change in such status was recorded in May 2026.
According to the Ukrainian project "I Want to Live," around 500 Russian conscripts who were captured in Kursk Oblast have passed through prisoner exchanges in total.
By the second anniversary of the events in Kursk Oblast, not a single conscript remained in captivity
Conscripts began being sent to the border as early as spring 2024
As claimed by "IStories" and "Verstka," Russian conscripts began being sent to the border districts of Kursk Oblast as early as late March 2024. Some servicemen voluntarily agreed to such assignments, while relatives of others tried to prevent them.
According to the journalists’ sources, conscripts at a military unit in Bryansk Oblast were assured that they would be positioned behind border guard and contract-service units. At the same time, conscripts made up between 50% and 85% of the personnel at many positions.