Mass burials in Crimea: Russia's new losses in the war with Ukraine
Mass burials of Russian soldiers who died during the invasion of Ukraine continue in the annexed Crimea. Krym.Realii is monitoring this situation. In this material we talk about who were the Russian soldiers who returned to Crimea - to their graves.
Coffins with the remains of Russian soldiers arrive on the Crimean peninsula without much publicity. As a rule, the death of a soldier becomes known only after the funeral - whether it is announced by relatives or local authorities. Given that all such events are not public, it is impossible to calculate the exact losses of the Russian army in Crimea in the war with Ukraine.
Krym.Realii managed to identify more than 600 Crimeans who died in the ranks of the Armed Forces of Russia. This number continues to grow. In February, it became known about several more funerals of Russian soldiers who fought against Ukraine. Most of the dead were buried in Sevastopol.
"Fought hard, died in Krinok"
The Russian authorities of Sevastopol announced the funeral of a Russian military officer, guard junior sergeant Konstantin Bondarenko. He was born and raised in the village of Andreevka on the Black Sea coast in the Sevastopol region.
"Since childhood, he dreamed of military service, he prepared hard for it, he was involved in sports, he was a great patriot of Sevastopol. After completing his mandatory military service, Konstantin volunteered for the military office immediately in September 2022 and was called up to the Armed Forces of Russia as part of a partial mobilization. Having undergone good military and physical training, he fought skillfully and diligently," announced Mikhail Razvozhaev, the head of the Russian administration of Sevastopol.
Konstantin Bondarenko died near the village of Krinok in the Kherson region.
The Ukrainian armed forces managed to transfer their forces across the Dnieper to the right bank in part of the Kherson region. The Russian army is trying to push the Armed Forces of Ukraine out of that location. Fighting continues in this area.
"Died in the direction of Kherson"
Russian soldier Alexander Karpushkin did not return from fighting in the direction of Kherson. He was also born and raised in Sevastopol. He finished boarding school number 14, played in the military orchestra.
After the conscription, he went to the paramilitary guard. In 2021, he signed a contract for military service in the reserve of the Russian army.
After Russia launched an invasion of Ukraine, he went to the front because he "couldn't remain indifferent", reports Mihail Razvozhaev.
In the comments below his message, a photo of Alexander Karpuskin in a trench was published.
Alexander Karpushkin was killed in the fighting in the direction of Kherson near the village of Potemkino. The village is located on the right bank of the Kherson region and was captured by the Ukrainian armed forces in 2022.
From Kača - to war
Russian soldier Vasil Havrilenko was buried in Sevastopol on February 13.
It comes from the Sumi region. But since childhood he lived with his family in the Crimean village of Furmanovka, Bakhchisaray district. Vasil Havrilenko graduated from the Secondary Technical School in Sevastopol, and was also a collector of ships.
After serving in the army, he worked in enterprises in Bakhchisaray and Simferopol districts. Then he moved and lived in the village of Kača near Sevastopol.
In the summer of 2023, he signed a contract with the Russian army and went to the front in Ukraine. Vasyl Havrilenko died near the village of Nevelskogo in the Donetsk region.
In the message of the Russian head of Sevastopol, Mikhail Razvozhaev, this village is called part of the territory controlled by the armed groups "DNR".
According to DeepStatemap.live, an interactive map of battles in Ukraine, the village of Nevelskoye is under the control of the Ukrainian armed forces. But the Russian army is actively advancing in this direction and active fighting is taking place.
From the survey - to the contract
Another Russian soldier, Sergei Simchishin, was buried in Sevastopol on February 15.
According to the local authorities, he was born, grew up and graduated from school in this city. Then he studied at the Sevastopol branch of Moscow State University, specializing in psychology. He worked in Sevastopol in catering companies.
In the fall of 2023, he signed a contract with the Russian army and went to fight in Ukraine.
Sergei Simchishin died while rescuing his friend near the village of Terni in the Kramatorsk district, according to Mikhail Razvozhaev.
This village is currently controlled by the Armed Forces of Ukraine, but Russian troops are conducting an offensive there.
According to the Russian head of Sevastopol, at least 100 Russian soldiers have been buried in this city since February 24, 2022. This information cannot be verified.
"Guardian" of the Crimean "border"
In February, 42-year-old Russian soldier Vitaly Herzhavka was buried in Alushta. He commanded the rifle division of the Russian army, according to the head of the Russian administration of Alushta, Galina Ogneva.
Vitalij Heržavka is a native of Chisinau (Moldova). In 2010, he moved with his family to Crimea. In 2014, he helped in the Russian annexation of the Crimean peninsula.
"Since March 2014, he has participated in measures to protect public order and protect the border in the city of Armiansk (Turkey Val) and the Chongar checkpoint in the First Combined Regiment of the Alushta Company of the People's Militia (representatives of the "Crimean Self-Defense Force" were formed under the leadership of the Russian head of Crimea, Sergei Aksenov The authorities of Ukraine consider these to be illegal armed formations - KR), says Halina Ogneva.
The soldier was brought into the "Peacemaker" base in connection with "committing an intentional act against Ukraine's national security, peace, security of humanity and the international legal order, as well as other criminal acts."
After Russia annexed Crimea, Vitaly Gerzhavka joined the military service under the contract. He served in the 126th separate guard brigade of coastal defense in Perevalno.
During the Russian invasion of Ukraine, he went to the front. According to Galina Ogneva, the soldier was wounded, he was treated in the hospital, but he died of his wounds on February 5.
"Awarded Posthumously"
In February, 22-year-old soldier Daniil Tyutyunkov from the village of Novogrigoriyevka was buried in Nizhnegorsk district.
The deceased was posthumously awarded the "Order of Courage" for "combat merits, demonstrated courage and heroism," said Anton Kravets, head of the Russian administration of the Nizhnegorsk District of Crimea.
In which troops Daniil Tyutyunkov served, as well as the place and circumstances of his death, the authorities have not announced. Also, nothing is known about the fallen soldier.
In 2020, a person with similar data was mentioned among the students of the Maritime Technical College in Kerch.
Russian authorities do not reveal how many Crimeans died in the ranks of the Russian army during the war with Ukraine.
The representation of the President of Ukraine states that 680 Russian soldiers who died in the war with Ukraine are buried in Crimea.