The Empty Villages of Russia’s Far East: A Generation Lost to War
In the remote fishing village of Sedanka, nestled in Russia’s Far East, a quiet crisis is unfolding. As Russia’s war in Ukraine continues, this isolated community is experiencing a devastating loss of its male population, leaving behind a landscape of aging women, abandoned homes, and a looming struggle for survival.
Life in Sedanka: A Harsh Reality
Life in Sedanka is already challenging. Most homes lack basic amenities like running water, indoor toilets, and central heating, with temperatures routinely plummeting to -10°C (14°F) during the harsh winters. The village, surrounded by forest-tundra and bogs, is largely cut off from the outside world. From May to October, access is limited to river boats or tracked vehicles; in winter, only snowmobiles or helicopters can reach it. Economic opportunities are scarce, and residents primarily rely on fishing and subsistence farming.
A Village Depleted by War
According to locals, almost all of Sedanka’s men aged 18 to 55 have joined Russia’s military campaign in Ukraine. Natalia, a villager who requested anonymity, expressed the heartbreak felt by many: “It’s heartbreaking – so many of our people have been killed. My sister’s husband and my cousins are at the front. In almost every family, someone is fighting.”
Located on the northwestern edge of the Kamchatka Peninsula, near the Sea of Okhotsk, Sedanka is over 4,300 miles (7,000km) from the front lines in Ukraine. To put that distance into perspective, Anchorage, Alaska, is roughly half as far away.
The Human Cost
Thirty-nine men from Sedanka, out of a total population of 258, have signed contracts to fight in the war. As of February 2026, the village has already mourned the loss of 12 men, with another seven reported missing. The impact extends beyond immediate family, leaving a void in the community’s ability to sustain itself. “All our men have left for the special military operation,” a group of women told the regional governor during a visit in March 2024, using the Kremlin’s terminology for the conflict. Their plea was stark: “There is no one to chop firewood for winter to heat our stoves.”
Broader Trends in Russian Casualties
The losses in Sedanka reflect a broader trend across Russia, particularly among rural communities and ethnic minorities. The BBC, along with Russian news outlet Medizona and volunteer researchers, has verified that 40,201 Russian soldiers were killed in 2025. Analysis suggests the total number of Russian deaths in 2025 could reach 80,000, making it the deadliest year for Russian forces in Ukraine since the full-scale invasion began in February 2022. Confirmed deaths for 2024 reached 69,362, comparable to the combined totals for 2022, and 2023.
The BBC has identified a total of 186,102 Russian soldiers killed in the war, but experts believe the actual number is significantly higher, potentially ranging from 286,000 to 413,500.
Disproportionate Impact on Indigenous Communities
While most Russian soldiers killed in the war have Slavic surnames, losses are disproportionately high among smaller indigenous groups, especially in economically disadvantaged regions like Siberia and the Far East. Sedanka is primarily inhabited by Koryak and Itelmeni people, indigenous groups who, under wartime regulations, are eligible for exemption from mobilization. However, anti-war activist Maria Vyushkova argues that Russian state TV promotes stereotypes of indigenous communities as “born warriors” to encourage enlistment.
Confirmed losses from local groups include 201 Nenets, 96 Chukchi, 77 Khanty, 30 Koryak, and seven Inuit.
A Promise Unfulfilled
In the fall of 2024, a monument was erected in Sedanka to honor the “participants of the special military operation.” The regional government pledged to award the village the honorary title of “Village of Military Valor” and provide support to the families of Sedanka’s soldiers. However, as of February 2026, the village has yet to receive its title, and much of the promised support remains undelivered. While some roofs were repaired on the homes of contract soldiers after media attention, many homes built during the Soviet era remain in a state of disrepair, and the village’s only school is considered structurally unsafe.
The story of Sedanka is a stark illustration of the human cost of war, particularly for vulnerable communities on the periphery of Russia. As the conflict continues, the future of this remote village, and others like it, hangs in the balance.