Ask Onix
Life in Sedanka: A village stripped of its men
In Sedanka, a remote fishing village on Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula, daily survival has long been a struggle. Most homes lack running water, indoor plumbing, and central heating, despite winter temperatures routinely plunging to -10°C (14°F). The nearest district center is accessible only by riverboat in summer or snowmobile in winter, leaving residents largely cut off for months.
Now, the village faces a new crisis: nearly all men aged 18 to 55 have left to fight in Ukraine, locals say. Of Sedanka's 258 residents, 39 signed military contracts. Twelve have been killed, and seven remain missing.
"It's heartbreaking-so many of our people have been killed," said Natalia, a villager whose name was changed for her safety. "My sister's husband and my cousins are at the front. Almost every family has someone fighting."
Disproportionate toll on indigenous and rural communities
Sedanka's population is primarily Koryak and Itelmen, indigenous groups exempt from mobilization under wartime rules. Yet, anti-war activist Maria Vyushkova says state propaganda exploits cultural pride, portraying these communities as "born warriors" to encourage enlistment.
Vladimir Akeev, a 45-year-old hunter and fisherman from Sedanka, signed a military contract in summer 2024. He was killed four months later. His funeral in November 2024 required snowmobiles to transport mourners and his coffin on wooden sleds to the cemetery.
BBC analysis reveals that indigenous groups suffer disproportionately high losses. Confirmed deaths include 201 Nenets, 96 Chukchi, 77 Khanty, 30 Koryaks, and seven Inuit. As a share of males aged 18-60, this equates to 2% of Chukchi, 1.4% of Russian Inuit, 1.32% of Koryaks, and 0.8% of Khanty.
Rural Russia hit hardest as death toll climbs
The BBC, alongside Russian outlet Meduza and volunteer researchers, has verified 40,201 Russian soldier deaths in 2025, with projections suggesting the year's total could reach 80,000-the deadliest since the full-scale invasion began in February 2022. Confirmed deaths for 2024 stand at 69,362, nearly matching the combined totals of 2022 and 2023.
In total, the BBC has identified 186,102 Russian soldiers killed, though experts estimate the true toll could range between 286,000 and 413,500, accounting for unrecorded battlefield deaths.
Rural areas and small towns, home to 48% of Russia's population, account for 67% of the dead. Moscow's death rate is the lowest-five per 10,000 males (0.05%)-while poorer regions like Buryatia and Tuva see rates 27 to 33 times higher. Demographer Alexey Raksha attributes this gap to economic disparities, lower pay, and limited education opportunities, which drive recruitment from marginalized communities.
Broken promises and crumbling infrastructure
In autumn 2024, Sedanka unveiled a monument to "participants of the special military operation." The regional government pledged to honor the village with the title "village of military valour" and promised support for soldiers' families. Yet, neither the title nor most aid has materialized.
Only four homes of contract soldiers received roof repairs after media scrutiny. One in five Soviet-era houses is deemed unsafe, and the village's sole school, classified as an emergency risk, has walls at risk of collapse. The exodus of working-age men has compounded these challenges.
Ukraine's losses also mount
Ukraine's death toll remains opaque. President Volodymyr Zelensky told French broadcaster France 2 last month that 55,000 Ukrainian soldiers had been killed "officially," with a "large number" missing. BBC estimates, cross-referenced with sources like the UA Losses website, suggest the true figure could exceed 200,000.
