A pro-Kremlin tabloid reported on Monday that nearly 10,000 Russian soldiers were killed in the war in Ukraine – before the publication removed the figure and claimed it had been hacked.
The pro-Putin Komsomolskaya Pravda, citing the Russian Defense Ministry, reported that 9,861 Russian soldiers had died and 16,153 been injured in Ukraine since Russia launched its invasion on February 24. It is unclear whether the figures given were correct.
The astounding numbers were far higher than any previous figure Russia had released since the conflict began.
On March 2, the latest official death toll released by Russia, the country said 498 Russians had been killed in action and 1,597 injured.
Komsomolskaya Pravda is known for supporting the leadership of the Russian President.dpa/Image via Getty I
A body of a dead Russian soldier lies in a field near Sytnyaky, Ukraine, Saturday, March 5, 2022. Los Angeles Times/Polaris
Later Monday, Komsomolskaya Pravda removed the massive figures from its website and made a statement claimed it was hacked.
The original version of the article can still be found in the newspaper’s online archive.
According to a New York Times report last week, intelligence officials conservatively estimate that around 7,000 Russian soldiers have been killed in the war so far.
Russia’s latest official death toll said 498 Russians were killed in action and 1,597 injured. AFP via Getty Images
For comparison: 3,481 US soldiers were killed in the American war in Iraq.
Six senior Russian military officials were also killed, including four generals, according to Ukrainian officials.