‘End justifies the means’- high Russian death toll fails to shift opinion on Ukraine war

In a recent interview, two Russian soldiers, Vyacheslav Trutnev and Dmitry Ostrovsky from the 132nd Brigade of the 109th Regiment, shared their harrowing experiences as they recorded what they feared might be their final message while huddled in an undisclosed location near the frontlines in eastern Ukraine. They described a grim situation where they abandoned their positions after being ordered by their company commander to conduct a nighttime advance through minefields—an order they characterized as a “suicide mission.”

“Three groups already went ahead and they aren’t responding. We were the fourth,” one soldier disclosed in a clip that surfaced on Russian social media. “This mission felt like a one-way ticket. We laid down our weapons and retreated.” They expressed bitterness toward their commander, highlighting the desperation of sending “the hungry and freezing in droves to their deaths… Your insane orders are killing them.”

This footage provides a rare insight into the brutal reality of Moscow’s wartime strategies, which some soldiers liken to being thrown into a meat grinder. As the conflict continues, estimates suggest that Russia has experienced severe personnel losses, with reports indicating between 113,000 to 160,000 soldiers killed since the beginning of the war—ten times the losses suffered during the Soviet-Afghan conflict.

September 2024 marked a particularly deadly month for the Russian military, with over 1,000 soldiers reportedly injured or killed daily, according to intelligence from the U.S., UK, and other European sources. Yet, despite these staggering statistics, a significant portion of the Russian populace appears indifferent to the rising death toll.

Denis Volkov, director of the Levada Center, explained that financial incentives play a crucial role in recruitment efforts, with salaries attracting new soldiers at unprecedented levels. In certain regions, recruits can expect upfront payments of up to 3 million roubles (around £23,800), along with monthly wages significantly higher than the national average. Consequently, even as the number of casualties climbs, recruitment efforts have soared by 224% following increased Ukrainian military actions this summer.

Public sentiment remains largely supportive of the military campaign, notwithstanding isolated protests from a small group of grieving families. Volkov noted that the majority of those fighting are volunteers from impoverished areas or former convicts, rather than conscripts or long-term soldiers. This dynamic contributes to a sense of detachment among urban populations in cities like Moscow and St. Petersburg, where the war feels remote.

The Russian government has also actively promoted a narrative glorifying the sacrifices of fallen soldiers, aiming to instill a sense of pride among citizens. Memorial plaques honoring soldiers have appeared throughout the country, with Putin attempting to connect the conflict to historic narratives from World War II, appealing to national pride and historical continuity.

Experts speculate that this cultural landscape, combined with Putin’s leadership over the past two decades, has resulted in a diminished perception of individual life, as seen in historical contexts like the Stalin purges and the COVID-19 death toll. Notably, Putin himself has framed the deaths of service members as noble sacrifices, suggesting their lives were not lost in vain. Propagandists further emphasize this viewpoint, reinforcing the idea that serving the state offers a meaningful purpose.

As a result, some observers, including historian Dina Khapaeva, believe that Russians are being offered “the joy of death”—a concept that transforms a grim reality into a narrative of heroism and sacrifice for the motherland. This complex interplay of societal attitudes, historical memory, and state messaging continues to shape the ongoing conflict and the public’s response to the staggering losses incurred.