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In a slip-up, Vladimir Putin's cousin accidentally revealed a secret number that could have significant implications for the conduct of the war in Ukraine.
Putin's second cousin may have accidentally revealed sensitive information relating to Russian losses in the Ukraine war. She leaked a secret figure that analysts say could be linked to the real number of Russian casualties in the conflict.
Anna Tsivilyova, daughter of a cousin of Vladimir Putin and deputy defense minister, revealed that the government received 48.000 requests from relatives of soldiers for DNA analysis.
The figure, mentioned by her in the video, reinforced speculation about the dimensions of the casualties Russians in the war against Ukraine.
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The statement came at a public meeting broadcast by the Duma, the lower house of the Russian parliament.
In a video released by the independent Astra Telegram channel, Tsivilyova said that the Ministry of Internal Affairs stores DNA samples to help families search for missing people.I already said 48.000“, she declared, before being warned by Andrei Kartapolov, head of the defense committee, not to disclose these numbers.
Putin-sensitive figure sparks immediate reaction
Kartapolov quickly interrupted Tsivilyova. He warned about the sensitivity of the data, asking that the figure not be used in official documents or statements. According to him, information related to missing persons and losses is “very sensitive and closed".
Tsivilyova tried to justify herself, stating that the number refers only to requests from relatives, and not to the confirmed number of losses or missing people.
The attempt to contain the damage, however, came too late. The recording of the hearing was widely circulated on social media, although it was removed from the Duma's official website the following day, according to Reuters.
Putin's Military Losses: A State Secret
Since the beginning of the conflict, neither Russia nor Ukraine have released official figures on their military casualties. Western intelligence sources, however, estimate that Russian losses include around 200.000 losses and 400.000 injured.
These numbers are consistent with the most recent reports from Ukrainian authorities, which point to an average of 1.500 daily casualties in Russian forces.
Last month, Ukrainian forces claimed that Russia had suffered more than 2.000 casualties in a single day, a milestone in the hostilities. Sir Tony Radakin, Chief of the UK Defence Staff, highlighted that Russian forces are approaching the milestone of 700.000 total casualties, considering losses and injuries. He described the impact of the war on the Russian people as “extraordinary.”
Counterpoints and controversies
Tsivilyova’s inadvertent disclosure fuels debate over how transparent Russian authorities are about the impact of the war. Both Russia and Ukraine frequently release figures on enemy casualties but dismiss enemy estimates as exaggerated.
The episode involving Putin's cousin highlights the tension in Moscow over the secrecy of information related to the war. Experts say the number revealed by Tsivilyova may be just the tip of the iceberg, indicating that the magnitude of Russian losses remains a taboo subject, protected by strict government controls.
The war, now approaching three years old, continues to devastate lives and raise questions about the human and social costs of the conflict for both sides.
