Russia to Award Medal for Wartime Body Recovery Operations Amid Growing Casualties in Ukraine Conflict

Russia's Ministry of Defence has put forward a proposal to create a medal recognizing both military personnel and civilians who assist in retrieving bodies from combat areas, offering a rare glimpse into Russia's challenges in accounting for casualties nearly four years into the Ukraine conflict.

According to the draft regulation published Monday in an official database, the medal would honor those who undertake "evacuation of killed servicemen and other individuals in combat conditions with life-threatening risks."

The proposal also includes provisions to award individuals who implement innovative technologies that facilitate body recovery from frontline areas and help identify deceased personnel.

Both Russia and Ukraine maintain strict classification of their combat losses as state secrets.

British military intelligence estimates published earlier this year suggest that over 1 million Russian soldiers have been killed or wounded since Russia's invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022.