The defense ministry was charged with underreporting casualties of the war in Ukraine as a result of disagreements within Russia’s security apparatus, according to US documents that have leaked.
Regarding the number of war fatalities, Russia has not made many public statements.
The FSB security service, however, asserted that the deaths of Wagner mercenaries, members of the Russian National Guard, and other parties were not being counted.
Russia has already expressed concern that the leaks may be phony and was dropped on purpose by the US.
Disagreements within Russia’s security apparatus
The information confirms what was already widely known, which is that Russia’s security and military establishments have frequently disagreed over how to conduct the war in Ukraine and that Russia has refrained from disclosing the number of people who have been killed and injured.
The FSB’s reported calculation of almost 110,000 casualties by February is still significantly less than figures this week in previously leaked US documents, which estimated Russian losses at between 189,500 and 223,000 casualties, with 35,500-43,000 men killed in action.
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When the deaths of 5,937 servicemen were officially confirmed in September of last year that is when Russia’s most recent figure was last updated.
According to the same document, the military’s “continuing reluctance” to deliver bad news up the chain of command is highlighted by the under-reporting of casualties within the system.
These intercepted communications, designated “SI” or Special Intelligence, seem to support the assertion made by commentators that President Vladimir Putin has been kept in the dark about the extent of Russia’s casualties on the battlefield.
