1992-1993 - Occupation of Transnistria
After Moldova declared independence, the part of the territory where the military base of the 14th Russian Army was located declared its sovereignty. The regime was headed by the Russian General Lebed. This was the beginning of a war that turned Transnistria into an unrecognized gray zone with a ruined economy and isolation in the international arena.
Independent sources estimate that between 364 and 913 Russian military and mercenaries died during the 20 months of war.
1992-1993 - Abkhazian war
On August 14, 1992, Russia supported the Abkhaz separatists, provoking an armed conflict between them and the Georgian government. Russian weapons and military aid were at the disposal of the Abkhaz, and Russian air forces attacked civilian targets on Georgian territory. Russian warships took part in shelling the city of Sukhumi. The conflict ended with the secession of Abkhazia from Georgia, which suited Russia's interests.
During the year-long war, 2,220 military personnel died on the Russian-backed Abkhaz side.
1994-1996 - The First Chechen War
While Russia interfered in the affairs of other countries, inciting separatist movements, it was itself confronted with the Chechen people's growing demand for independence. This led to a brutal war that began in 1994 and ended with the devastating battle for Grozny. The Russian military attempted to seize control of the mountainous regions of Chechnya but faced strong resistance from the guerrillas. Mass rejection and public demoralization forced Boris Yeltsin's government to declare a truce in 1996.
During the 20 months of war, according to official figures, about 5,000 Russian soldiers died, but according to the Union of Soldiers' Mothers of Russia, the figure is 14,000.
1994-1996 - Second Chechen War
From 1999 to the spring of 2009, a second Russian-Chechen war was fought, stretching across Chechnya and the border regions of the North Caucasus. The first phase of the conflict lasted until the spring of 2000 and ended with the establishment of a pro-Russian Chechen government. Despite this, tensions in the region did not subside. For the next 9 years, Russian security services fought against the insurgency in the North Caucasus. Anna Politkovskaya, a journalist with Ukrainian roots, dedicated a book to the war and was assassinated on Putin's birthday in 2006. A hall of the European Parliament in Brussels is named in her honor.
In 10 years, the Russian armed forces have lost more than 7,300 soldiers and mercenaries according to official figures, while the Union of Soldiers' Mothers of Russia estimates the figure to be at least 14,000.
2008 - Russian-Georgian war
On August 8, 2008, Russia, citing the need to protect the local population, launched an invasion of Georgia from the territories of the separatist republics of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. Within five days, the aviation conducted more than 100 attacks on Georgian cities, targeting civilian objects and killing civilians. As a result, South Ossetia is an unrecognized republic under Russian control.
During the six days of the war, 170 Russian military and mercenaries were killed.
2015-2022 - Invasion of Syria by the Russian Federation
The Russian invasion was a key moment in the Syrian civil war that began in 2011. As early as early 2015, the regime of Bashar al-Assad was on the verge of collapse. Russian arms, troops, and air support significantly strengthened Assad's dictatorship, leading to massive civilian casualties. This last-ditch intervention helped Assad achieve military superiority over the rebels by the end of 2017 and continues to support him today.
During the six years of war, various estimates range from 321 to 444 Russian military and mercenaries have been killed.
2014-2024 - Invasion of Ukraine
In the spring of 2014, Russia began annexing Crimea and attempted to create "people's republics" in the east, south, and center of Ukraine. Under the guise of an "independence movement," the Russians, supported by Russian troops, seized power in Donetsk and Luhansk. Ukraine responded by launching an anti-terrorist operation. After heavy fighting in 2014 and 2015, the undeclared war in eastern Ukraine went into a frozen state. On February 24, 2022, Russia officially launched a full-scale invasion, calling it a "special operation."
Nearly 6,000 Russian soldiers were killed in the first days of the war.
