In the isolated Kamchatka village of Sedanka, where winter temperatures plummet to -10°C (14°F), life has always been challenging. Most homes lack running water, indoor toilets, and central heating. Accessible only by river boat during summer months and snowmobile or helicopter in winter, this remote community survives primarily through fishing and subsistence farming.
Now, Sedanka faces an unprecedented crisis: nearly all men aged 18 to 55 have joined Russia’s war in Ukraine. From a population of just 258 people, 39 men signed military contracts. Twelve have been confirmed killed, with seven others missing.
“It’s heartbreaking – so many of our people have been killed,” says Natalia (name changed for security), whose brother-in-law and cousins are currently at the front. “In almost every family, someone is fighting.”
The BBC, in collaboration with Russian outlet Medizona and volunteer researchers, has verified 40,201 Russian soldier deaths in 2025 alone. Projections indicate this number could reach 80,000 by year’s end, making 2025 the deadliest period for Russian forces since the full-scale invasion began in February 2022. Total confirmed Russian military deaths now stand at 186,102, though military experts estimate the actual toll could range between 286,000 and 413,500.
Analysis reveals striking demographic disparities: 67% of casualties come from rural areas and small towns (populations under 100,000), despite these regions containing only 48% of Russia’s population. Indigenous communities like the Koryaks and Itelmens of Sedanka suffer disproportionately high losses, despite wartime rules theoretically exempting them from mobilization.
Anti-war activist Maria Vyushkova explains how state media promotes stereotypes of indigenous peoples as “born warriors” to encourage recruitment. “The Kremlin uses this pride to recruit for war,” she states.
The economic divide is stark: Moscow’s per capita death rate stands at 0.05%, while poorer regions like Buryatia and Tuva experience rates 27-33 times higher. Demographer Alexey Raksha attributes this gap to differences in economic development, pay, and education opportunities.
Despite promises of support, Sedanka has received little assistance. Only four soldiers’ homes received roof repairs after media attention, while one-fifth of Soviet-era houses remain officially classified as unsafe. The village’s sole school risks structural collapse.
As another demographer notes: “For many, the driver is not only poverty but a lack of prospects – the feeling that there is nothing to lose.”