Russia has lost more than 300 officers fighting in Ukraine, according to new data collected by an independent Russian newspaper.
In total, 317 officers of junior lieutenant rank and above have been killed in a little over two months of fighting, analysis by outlet MediaZona revealed today.
Almost a third came from the most senior grades - major or above - including at least two generals and the deputy commander of Russia's Black Sea fleet.
Vladimir Putin's army has suffered heavy losses since he ordered the invasion of Ukraine on February 24, with the UK this week saying 15,000 troops have died.
Major General Andrei Sukhovetsky is one of the highest-ranking commanders that Russia has acknowledged were killed fighting in Ukraine
Mikhail Nagamov, 41 (left), and Alexander Chirva (right), are two of the most-recent officers Russia has admitted died in its war on Ukraine
MediaZona, which is currently blocked in Russia but continues to operate online, compiled its data by looking at public reports of troop deaths from local government officials, newspapers, or families posting on social media.
That means the figures will be far lower than the true total because of delays between the troops being killed and their deaths being reported, difficulties in identifying bodies, and deliberate cover-ups by Moscow.
In total, MediaZona found 1,744 reports of military deaths in Ukraine - higher than the Kremlin's official figure of 1,351 which it has not updated since late March.
It found 317 of those deaths were of officers, which accounts for almost a fifth of the total figure.
MediaZona believes that is because officer deaths are more-likely to be reported than those of foot-soldiers.
The highest-ranked deaths that Russia has acknowledged are of Andrei Sukhovetsky and Vladimir Frolov, who were both Major Generals.
Russia has also acknowledged the death of Captain 1st Rank Andrei Paly, the deputy commander of its Black Sea fleet, MediaZona said.
Ukraine claims to have killed a total of 10 generals, including two who it says died at the weekend on a strike of a command post near the city of Kherson.
Kyiv claims to have killed more than 22,000 Russian troops fighting in Ukraine since Putin declared the start of a 'special military operation' on February 24 (file)
Ukraine also claims to have destroyed hundreds of Russian tanks and thousands of other vehicles, putting large parts of Putin's army out of action
One more general was critically wounded in the strike, Kyiv claimed, adding that it believes a total of 50 officers were inside the post at the time it was blown up.
Despite Russia's claims not to be sending conscripts to fight in Ukraine, MediaZona uncovered several cases where conscripts had been killed.
Pavel Pozanen, 20, died in fighting near Kharkiv, while Denis Yaroslavtsev, 18, and 19-year-old Alexander Bobrov were killed just over three months after being drafted in November last year.
Ukrainian commanders put the total number of Russian troops killed during the invasion at more than 22,000. British MPs were told Monday that 15,000 have died.
The true figure is likely to remain a mystery amid reports that Russian troops are burning some of their dead on the battlefield, burying them in mass graves, or simply leaving bodies where
