Russia’s intentional avoidance of deploying residents of large urban centers is aimed at preventing political instability.
The Kremlin relies on troops for rural regions to wage its offensive war in Ukraine.
A report by an independent Russian media outlet revealed that Russians living in large urban centers contribute very little to the Kremlin’s “special military operation” in Ukraine.
Rural Russians Are Dying in Large Numbers
The independent Russian media outlet Proekt recently came out with the results of a large-scale study on Russian military casualties in Ukraine. The study found that less than 1 percent of Russian state officials have relatives who have deployed in Ukraine. Moreover, the study found that an unequal contribution of troops from large urban centers compared to rural areas of Russia.
“Whilst Russia has sustained continuously high casualty rates since launching the illegal, full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, including likely more than 400,000 killed and wounded in both 2025 and in 2024, ethnic Russians from cities continue to contribute a disproportionately small share of service personnel and resultant casualties relative to the rest of the population,” the British Ministry of Defence assessed in its latest intelligence update on the Ukrainian conflict.
In total, the Russian military, paramilitary units, and pro-Russian separatist forces have suffered nearly 1.2 million casualties in almost four years of fighting. Out of those casualties, Western intelligence estimates put the number of killed in action at over 250,000, with the rest being wounded. For comparison, the initial Russian invasion force numbered approximately 190,000 troops.
To sustain that number of losses, the Russian Ministry of Defense has had to be creative, offering large sign-up bonuses, pressing into service convicts with the promise of freedom, and relying on foreign mercenaries.
The avoidance of deploying residents of large urban centers is aimed at preventing political instability.
“By focusing recruitment efforts disproportionately on impoverished regions, often predominantly populated by ethnic minorities, Russia’s state apparatus better leverages financial inducements, whilst also limiting the impact on those urban-dwelling parts of the Russian population that have greater political agency,” the British Ministry of Defence added.
Russia’s Tolerance for Steep Casualties
The Russian political and military leadership is prepared to take extremely high losses in Ukraine to achieve the invasion goals.
“Russian President Putin and the Russian senior leadership are almost certainly prepared to tolerate continuously high casualty rates so long as this does not negatively affect public or elite support for the war, and those losses can be replaced,” the British Ministry of Defence concluded in its intelligence assessment.
In recent remarks to senior defense officials, the Russian leader stated a commitment to continue waging war against Ukraine until the Kremlin’s objectives are met. However, Putin was not clear as to Russia’s exact objectives. Indeed, they could range from the initial goals to topple the Ukrainian government and replace it with a puppet state to territorial concessions in eastern and southern Ukraine.
At different points in the war, all of the above have been at some point Moscow’s goals. And the appetite of the Russian bear seems to be growing, depending on how well the fighting is going on the battlefield.
About the Author: Stavros Atlamazoglou
Stavros Atlamazoglou is a seasoned defense journalist specializing in special operations and a Hellenic Army veteran (national service with the 575th Marine Battalion and Army HQ). He holds a BA from the Johns Hopkins University and an MA from the Johns Hopkins’ School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS). His work has been featured in Business Insider, Sandboxx, and SOFREP.
Image: Shutterstock.com / Sergey Nikonov
