Thread by @oivshina

What do we know about background and social position of #Russian soldiers, who are deployed in #Ukraine? BBC analysed publicly available info about 1083 Russian servicemen, who were killed in action. Here are some tendencies were found out. Thread

Regions that reported the highest number of the losses are so called depressed or semi depressed, ie areas with high unemployment and a low standard of living. In Dagestan (93 reported deaths) or Buryatia (53 rep. deaths) it’s very hard to find a job (let alone well paid job)

In #Dagestan unemployment rate is 15% (compared to average 4% in #Russia), average salary - 400 USD. If one joins army as private they can around 500 USD, but army also provide them food, uniform and a place to live. So a bigger part of the salary remains in your pocket

During “special operations” salary of a private infantryman of Russian army can reach 2.200 USD because of bonuses. Or even 2.600 USD if you are a sergeant or corporal. This is huge money for those living in the regions

20% of officially confirmed losses come from 10 Russia's depressed regions (plus Dagestan). If we add numbers from semi-depressed regions - it will be roughly 80% of all losses reported by Russian official sources (ie local officials, media and schools).

Striking example - there are zero(!) reports about military casualties from Moscow. Even Ukrainian sources never mentioned anyone from Moscow city, who was captured or killed in Ukraine.

It can have 2 explanations: 1) there are very few military units in Moscow itself 2) people from the capital don't join military that often. But people from Russian regions do. Many males from small towns and villages see army as the only social lift available

Russian army is an important employer for people from places where it is almost impossible to earn money. "Joining the army gives them a stable salary and sense security" - experts told BBC.

This is Mikhail Garmaev from Siberia. He finished school,went to college, dropped out, joined the army (as a conscript).Then returned home, got a job(installing alarm systems).But soon he returned to army (becoming a prof soldier. On March 6 he was killed near Kiev. Typical story

And there are many similar stories if you read biographies of Russian servicemen killed in Ukraine (especially non-officers). Young males in Russian regions study, then try and fail to find a stable job that will allow them to provide for their families. What is left? the Army

Coffins with Russian soldiers KIA in #Ukraine started coming to other countries of the former USSR. We know at least about 2 funerals in #Kyrgyzstan, 2 in #Tajikistan and 1 in breakaway region of South Ossetia (part of Georgia controlled by Russia since 2008)

All of them were technically citizens of Russia, who joined the Army. Egemberdi Dorboev lived in Siberia with his mother. He joined the Army in November. 4 months later he was deployed to Ukraine and killed in action

In early 2000s people from some post-Soviet countries aspired to join the Russian army, because it was a quick way to obtain Russian citizenship. Now there is no such path officially. But some loopholes remain. And again army is almost only social lift accessible for them

"Those migrants who didn't get good education and didn't find a better job in Russia find army career quite attractive. And strong propaganda adds to it”- explains human rights activist Svetlana Gannushkina.

With all that in mind - some aspects of Russian soldiers' behaviour in Ukraine look not surprising at all. END