Kathrine Frich
For soldiers, the possibility of death is a reality that comes with the uniform.
They train to face enemy fire, to survive chaos, and to defend orders on the battlefield.
What few ever expect, however, is to die before the fight begins, not at the hands of an enemy, but through despair, addiction, or neglect within their own ranks.
That is the picture drawn by a new intelligence report describing conditions inside parts of Russia’s army.
Growing number of deaths
Ukraine’s Military Intelligence Agency (HUR) says that since 2024, more than 600 Russian servicemen have died in the Central Military District alone, never making it to combat.
The agency links the deaths to drug abuse, poor hygiene, and unsafe living conditions inside military units.
In a statement released this week, HUR reported “unsanitary conditions, alcoholism and narcotics use” as key factors.
The same document records 71 suicides in 2024 and 86 in the first half of 2025, alongside 32 cases of food poisoning and 112 fatal overdoses.
According to Ukrainian officials, the data points to a deepening morale crisis within Russia’s armed forces.
Recruitment struggles in poor regions
The report also describes widespread recruitment failures across Russia’s poorest areas.
Citing internal documents from the Russian Defense Ministry, HUR says mobilization goals have not been met in several far-eastern territories, including the Sakha Republic (Yakutia).
In Yakutia, recruitment centers reportedly missed about 40 percent of their quotas. Ukrainian intelligence interprets this as a sign of growing discontent and exhaustion among the population as the war nears its fourth year.
Local losses are also shaping public sentiment.
High casualty rates among minority communities have made families reluctant to sign new military contracts, despite government promises of bonuses and housing.
Collapse of motivation
According to HUR, motivation to enlist in the Russian Far East remains “extremely low.”
Even with media campaigns and financial incentives, many potential recruits are turning down service.
The agency calls this trend “a reflection of fatigue and distrust” among those most affected by the prolonged conflict.
Analysts say the figures reveal more than just poor discipline.
They point to structural problems inside Russia’s military system, poor conditions, weak leadership, and a reliance on social pressure to fill the ranks.
Sources: HUR (Military Intelligence of Ukraine), Kyiv Post, Digi24, Russian Defense Ministry (referenced)
This article is made and published by Kathrine Frich, who may have used AI in the preparation
