Kathrine Frich
Wars are often measured in territory gained or lost, but their real cost is carried by families left behind.
In tightly controlled states, those losses are rarely discussed openly, especially when they challenge official narratives of strength and success.
That silence was broken this week by a pro-war Russian military blogger, whose remarks shed light on the scale of casualties and the lack of support for those affected.
Rare admission
A Russian Z blogger has openly acknowledged that air force personnel are being killed almost daily as a result of Ukrainian missile and drone strikes.
The comments were made on December 12 by Ilya Tumanov, a retired pilot known for supporting Russia’s war effort.
His remarks were highlighted by Ukrainian journalist Denis Kazansky, who shared them on his Telegram channel.
Tumanov’s statements stand out as an unusually blunt admission from within Russia’s pro-war online community.
No fundraising
According to Kazansky, Tumanov revealed that he had repeatedly been asked to launch fundraising campaigns to support the families of fallen pilots.
He said he refused to do so, explaining that the losses were so extensive that such efforts would be overwhelming and continuous.
“Pilots die every day. It would have been a continuous row of tombstones with the names of the deceased. Aviators of all categories are dying: pilots, technicians, as well as employees of other military structures,” Tumanov wrote.
Mounting losses
Tumanov’s comments come as Ukraine continues to target Russian air assets and infrastructure, putting sustained pressure on Moscow’s air force.
According to figures cited by the LETA news agency from the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Russian troop losses had reached 1,187,780 by Saturday morning.
The Ukrainian military said around 1,300 Russian soldiers were killed in the previous 24 hours alone.
Heavy equipment toll
Since the full-scale invasion began on February 24, 2022, Ukraine’s General Staff estimates Russia has lost thousands of pieces of military equipment.
These include 11,409 tanks, 23,714 armoured personnel carriers, 35,032 artillery systems, 1,567 multiple-launch rocket systems and 1,258 air defence units.
The losses also reportedly include 432 aircraft, 347 helicopters, tens of thousands of drones and vehicles, as well as ships, missiles and specialised equipment.
Ukrainian officials say that the true scale of Russian losses is still being clarified, as active fighting makes independent verification difficult.
Sources: LETA, General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Telegram (Denis Kazansky), LA.
