Russian troops in Syria. Illustrative photo
At least 543 Russian soldiers and mercenaries of the Wagner PMC have been killed in the war in Syria, which is significantly higher than the official figures published by the Russian Ministry of Defence. This was reported by the BBC, citing its own investigation based on open sources.
Major losses:
- 346 of those killed were mercenaries of the Wagner PMC. Their names were confirmed through journalistic materials, social media posts and leaked company documents.
- At least 7 FSB special forces officers, including members of the Alpha group.
- Several scouts from the 45th Airborne Special Forces Brigade.
- Soldiers and officers of GRU units.
- More than 20 military pilots and navigators.
Among the dead were also high-ranking officials:
- One major general.
- Ten colonels.
- 15 lieutenant colonels.
- 31 majors.
- 61 officers with ranks from lieutenant to captain.
Gap with official data
The Russian Ministry of Defence officially recognises only 116 military deaths in Syria. Such a significant discrepancy between real losses and official statistics raises serious questions about the transparency and credibility of the Russian authorities’ statements.
After the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime, Russia initiated an urgent closed meeting of the UN Security Council. This may be an attempt to preserve the remnants of influence in the Syrian arena and avoid geopolitical losses.
Russia’s losses in Syria indicate the high intensity of the fighting, which involved not only official military units but also mercenaries. A special price for Russia was the participation of pilots, special forces and officers, which indicates the significant involvement of elite forces.
