The morbid cost of Putin’s invasion for all to see: Satellite images show how ‘Russian cemeteries’ have ‘expanded’ in size in the two years since war broke out
- Russian cemeteries have expanded enormously in recent years
- Russia does not publish an official number of soldiers killed in Ukraine
- In one cemetery, the number of graves quadrupled in a year and a half
New satellite images have revealed how cemeteries containing the remains of Russian troops have expanded dramatically since the country invaded Ukraine.
The photos, taken by private satellite company Maxar Technologies, show that the final resting places for many of Russia’s elite military units, including the Wagner Mercenary group, have multiplied in size.
Images of just one part of Moscow’s Tula Cemetery show that the number of graves dug quadrupled between October 2021 and April 2023.
Elsewhere in Moscow, the Bogorodskoye Cemetery has apparently tripled in size, with another section added over the same period.
The new images clearly visualize the large number of Russian soldiers killed in the fight against Putin’s invasion of Ukraine.
A satellite image shows an overview of the Bogorodskoye Cemetery, near Ryaza
A satellite image shows an overview of the Blyzhnie Cemetery, near Feodosiya
A satellite image shows an overview of the Mikhaylovsk Cemetery, near Stavropol
Although the Kremlin does not publish official statistics on the number of troops killed in the invasion of Ukraine, estimates vary widely.
The British Ministry of Defense estimated that up to 70,000 Russian soldiers were killed. Independent media outlets Mediazona and Meduza, meanwhile, believe that as many as 88,000 soldiers will have been killed by the end of 2023.
Their estimate was based on public obituaries and official inheritance records.
But the US believes the number could be as high as 120,000, while Ukraine claimed last month that up to 180,000 had been killed.
Research by The Economist shows that a quarter of Russian soldiers killed come from regular military units, another quarter from volunteer corps and the rest are convicts who received a sentence in exchange for a stint on the front line.
While Russia has suffered enormous losses, Ukrainian forces and allies have also suffered enormously.
A satellite image shows an overview of the cemetery of Lazarus, near Alabino
A satellite image shows an overview of the Bakinskaya Cemetery
A satellite image shows an overview of the Tula cemetery
A Briton who went to Ukraine to fight Russian invaders after being inspired by Liz Truss killed himself after suffering from PTSD, an inquest has heard.
The family of Harry Gregg, 25, whose only previous military experience was with the army cadets, say he was traumatized by trench warfare and seeing comrades die.
They said Mr Gregg, from Thetford in Norfolk, had chosen to serve after the hearing after then-Foreign Secretary Ms Truss said she “absolutely” supported anyone helping Ukrainians in the fight for their freedom.
Her comments, made shortly after the Russian invasion in February 2022, were criticized at the time by Conservative colleagues, who said it would be reckless and illegal to pick a fight – while Downing Street distanced itself from her comments.
Mr Gregg’s mother, Sandi Gregg, told the Norfolk Coroner’s Court that her son’s mental health was ‘very poor’ on his return to Britain.
She added in a statement: ‘He suffered severely from PTSD from having fought on the front line in Ukraine. Unfortunately he couldn’t find any help for that.’
Mr Gregg was due to go karting and go out with friends to celebrate his 25th birthday on December 14, but they were unable to contact him, she said.
The next day, having still not heard from him, they called for checks and his body was seen through the letterbox of Mr Gregg’s home.
He was found hanging and paramedics pronounced him dead at the scene.