Who are the Russian troops in Ukraine?

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Russia has been tight-lipped about the number of its soldiers killed in Ukraine. Its last official casualty update only admitted to 1,300 deaths, while the Ukrainian estimates put the Russian toll at 36,000.

As Vladimir Putin's war in Ukraine drags on, there are questions about who the Russian soldiers are. Where do they come from? And why did they enlist?

Now, an investigation reveals the bulk of the soldiers killed were from poor, ethnic minority groups.

Jeff Semple has an exclusive look at one soldier who died.