Russia issues mass grave manual, highlighting heavy toll in Ukraine war

Russia’s Emergency Ministry has issued a manual instructing its troops on digging mass graves as casualties in Ukraine escalate. Distributed in early November, the 20-page manual includes step-by-step diagrams for constructing graves capable of holding up to 100 bodies.

The manual is called the “Civil Defense: Urgent Burials of Corpses in Wartime.” It specifies grave dimensions of more than 60 feet in length and six feet in depth. The mass graves require over 360 man-hours to complete, according to the manual.

The publication includes guidelines on when mass cremation is permissible and measures to prevent contamination from biological or chemical materials.

Reports indicate that Russian casualties in the war have reached over 700,000 dead and wounded. The figure is linked to Russia’s high-casualty “meat-wave” assault tactics.

These tactics send successive waves of troops to overwhelm Ukrainian positions, which has resulted in significant losses on the Russian side.

In response to personnel shortages, Russia has increased financial incentives. Russian officials have targeted migrant workers for recruitment, and enlisted individuals from economically struggling regions.

Russia’s ally, North Korea, has reportedly sent up to 12,000 soldiers to bolster Russian efforts in eastern Ukraine, where one of Moscow’s strongest offensives since the start of the war is currently underway.

Military analysts suggest the new manual on mass casualty management reflects Moscow’s resolve to continue its campaign, despite the significant human cost involved.