Silent Casualties of the War

Since the start of Russia’s War on Ukraine, at least 17 accidents involving military personnel have occurred in Belgorod Oblast, resulting in at least 32 deaths. Some incidents involved abandoned combat vehicles left without reflective markings, while others involved serious traffic violations or suspected intoxication. The independent outlet Regionalnye Aspekty (Regional Aspects) reported on several of the victims’ stories and their struggles.

Regionalnye Aspekty reported that most accidents stemmed from military personnel violating traffic laws while operating vehicles.

On February 7, 2025, a BMW X7 SUV driven by Marine Ramazan Gadzhimuradov crashed into an ambulance in central Belgorod while doing more than 150 kilometers per hour (93 mph). The impact hurled the ambulance into a utility pole and a building. Paramedic Olga Lyubimova and her colleague, Marina Parovyshnik, died at the scene.

According to online records, the vehicle involved had received more than 90 traffic violations over the past two years, mostly for speeding. Lyubimova’s relatives believe that all three occupants of the BMW — the driver and two passengers — were intoxicated, though no official confirmation has been released.

In April 2024, two Belgorod residents, Denis Tolmachev and Alexander Komarov, died in a crash involving a military truck. The men were driving a KamAZ carrying tar when the military vehicle  emerged from a curve in violation of traffic rules. It collided with another vehicle head-on, trapping Tolmachev and Komarov in the cabin, which then caught fire. Both died, leaving behind three children each. During the investigation, military personnel admitted they had tried to "slip through" the turn, knowingly breaking traffic rules.

Another frequent factor in the accidents is the lack of reflective signs on military vehicles. The deadliest known incident occurred in October 2022 in the Shebekinsky district, when a van carrying sawmill workers crashed into a parked military fuel truck that was unlit on the roadside. Ten people, including the van’s driver, were killed. The driver was found at fault.

Alcohol also appears to be a recurring factor. In June 2024, paramedic Maxim Barkalov was returning home when a self-propelled howitzer emerged from a forested area and ran over his car. Barkalov was trapped for over 90 minutes until residents were able to pull him free. Witnesses said the soldiers involved were intoxicated and initially blocked rescue efforts. Only after one bystander began filming did the soldiers leave, allowing civilians to assist. The soldiers reportedly fled the scene.

Barkalov ended up spending several months in the hospital and was discharged as an invalid. Trying to bring the culprits of the accident to justice, he contacted various authorities, but in vain.

In another incident in July 2024, a tank ran over the car of agronomist Konstantin Lopatkin. “It flew out, just crushed him, and that’s it,” said his stepdaughter, Natalya. Despite his extensive injuries, a forensic report listed the cause of death as a “heart rupture” rather than a traffic accident. Natalya, who now lives in Kazakhstan, said she is struggling to seek justice due to financial and geographic barriers. Initially, the soldier involved faced three years in prison, but the possible sentence has since been reduced to 18 months.

“We will not achieve any justice,” said Natalya.

Olga Lyubimova’s family is facing similar difficulties. Gadzhimuradov, the driver in the February 2025 crash, was transferred to the Burdenko military hospital in Moscow. Doctors have reportedly declared him medically unfit for investigative procedures, halting the investigation. There has been no further official comment. Another soldier in the BMW, Murad Musayev, has since been discharged from the hospital and returned to the frontlines.

According to Regionalnye Aspekty, nearly all the military-linked accidents have yet to result in criminal charges. Most cases are still under investigation, and penalties so far have been limited to administrative fines for traffic violations.

Notably, on August 5, 2024, following several high-profile incidents, Belgorod Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov announced the creation of a regional government commission to address military-related accidents. He called for weekly reviews, faster responses, and stricter accountability. However, there have been no public updates on the commission’s activity since that announcement.