In Moscow, the significant human cost of the war in Ukraine is a taboo subject, with official Russian figures on military losses being widely disbelieved. A US think tank estimates that Russia has suffered 1.25 million soldiers killed, wounded, or missing, a figure that dwarfs the last official Russian Ministry of Defense report from 2022, which stated approximately 6,000 deaths. This discrepancy highlights the Russian state's effort to maintain a narrative of a controlled "special operation" by downplaying casualties, focusing instead on enemy losses. Online discussions reveal public skepticism and concern over the true scale of the losses, with some estimating irreparable losses approaching half a million. The pervasive recruitment posters offering substantial financial incentives for contract soldiers further underscore the ongoing need for personnel on the front lines.