Roskomnadzor Restricts Access to Military Losses Database
Russia's communications watchdog, Roskomnadzor, has restricted access within the country to the 'I Want to Return' website, an online platform that publishes detailed information about Russian servicemen killed and wounded in Ukraine. The blocking action was reported around February 13, 2026, just a month after the initiative's launch in January 2026.
The 'I Want to Return' project, run by the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War, aims to provide transparency regarding Russian casualties. The database includes critical details such as:
- Names and surnames of servicemen
- Dog tag numbers and military units
- Medical diagnoses
- Dates of injury or death
Effort to Conceal Scale of Casualties
According to the Coordination Headquarters, the restriction is 'another attempt by the Kremlin to shield Russian society from the actual scale of the army's losses in Ukraine.' They emphasized that 'Russian authorities are afraid to show their own society the real consequences of the war against Ukraine.' As of February 13, 2026, the 'I Want to Return' database reportedly contained information on more than 156,000 killed and 96,000 wounded Russian military personnel, with new verified entries added weekly.
Impact on Information Access
The blocking means that relatives and others seeking information about the fate of Russian soldiers must now rely on VPN services to access the website. Despite these restrictions, website analytics indicate that hundreds of users from Russia continue to access the database daily, attempting to learn the real fate of servicemen.
Broader Context of Internet Censorship
This move by Roskomnadzor aligns with a broader pattern of increasing internet censorship in the Russian Federation. The regulator has a history of blocking websites for various reasons, including content deemed 'extremist,' 'fake news,' or information that 'discredits the Russian military.' Recent actions have also seen restrictions or blocks on major platforms such as YouTube, WhatsApp, and Telegram, as Russia intensifies its efforts to control the information space and promote a 'sovereign internet.'
5 Comments
Leonardo
Finally, some action against these foreign-funded provocations.
Raphael
Controlling information flow is a common tactic in conflict zones, however, making it harder for citizens to verify facts about their own soldiers can lead to widespread paranoia. This approach might undermine public morale more than it helps.
Donatello
While governments might cite national security for such blocks, denying families basic information about their loved ones only erodes trust. It often makes people suspect the worst.
Raphael
Cowards hiding the truth. The real numbers are clearly worse.
Donatello
Why would we want to publicize our losses? This is sensible.