Russia invades Ukraine Feb 2022

[Main Street]

Russia's war effort now runs on crypto-mobilization and censored death stats


ISW report Euromaidan

Russian stat bureau Rosstat disappears mortality data just as Putin calls for more volunteers to defend "values"

Putin has repeatedly avoided declaring another mobilization and instead relies on crypto-mobilization methods to reinforce his forces.
While pushing for more volunteers, the Russian government has quietly erased key mortality data from public view. On 5 July, opposition outlet Meduza reported that the Russian Federal State Statistics Service (Rosstat) excluded demographic statistics from its "Socioeconomic Situation in Russia" report covering January to May 2025.

Additionally, electoral statistics researcher Dmitry Kobak said in late June that Rosstat had declined his requests for 2024 data on male excess mortality and monthly death counts by actual date of death.

ISW previously assessed that Rosstat is concealing population data "likely also aims to obscure the Russian military's high personnel loss rates."

[Main Street]

BBC News - Russian minister sacked by Putin found dead
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cy7nvxzrvr0o

Moscow Times
Kremlin 'Shocked' by Apparent Suicide of Ex-Transportation Minister

The Kremlin said Tuesday that it was "shocked" by the apparent suicide of former Transportation Minister Roman Starovoit, who was found dead with a gunshot wound just hours after President Vladimir Putin dismissed him on Monday.

[Dag Dog]

BBC News - Russian minister sacked by Putin found dead
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cy7nvxzrvr0o

Moscow Times
Kremlin 'Shocked' by Apparent Suicide of Ex-Transportation Minister

The Kremlin said Tuesday that it was "shocked" by the apparent suicide of former Transportation Minister Roman Starovoit, who was found dead with a gunshot wound just hours after President Vladimir Putin dismissed him on Monday.

Usually they have 3 gunshot wounds when they commit suicide.