Most Russians killed in the war have Slavic surnames.
But losses are disproportionately high among small indigenous groups, especially in economically depressed areas of Siberia and the Far East, such as Sedanka.
Sedanka is home mainly to Koryaks and Itelmens – indigenous groups who, under wartime rules, can be exempted from mobilisation.
Anti-war activist Maria Vyushkova says Russian state TV amplifies stereotypes about indigenous communities being “born warriors” and skilled shooters in order to encourage them to join the war.
“Many indigenous communities take pride in that heritage as part of their identity. The Kremlin uses this pride to recruit for war,” Vyushkova says.
One of the men from Sedanka who joined the conflict was Vladimir Akeev, 45, a hunter and fisherman, who signed a contract with the army in the summer of 2024.
Four months later he was killed in combat.
Mourners at his funeral in November 2024 were only able to reach the cemetery by snowmobile, and Akeev’s coffin arrived on wide wooden sleds.
Elsewhere, confirmed losses from indigenous groups include 201 Nenets, 96 Chukchi, 77 Khanty, 30 Koryaks and seven Inuit.
As a proportion of males between the ages of 18 and 60, this equates to an estimated 2% of Chukchi, 1.4% of Russian Inuits, 1.32% of Koryaks and 0.8% of Khanty.