An officer from Dagestan was killed in Ukraine.

Muslim Muslimov, awarded the title Hero of Russia, was killed in combat in Ukraine. Since the beginning of the military operation, at least 1,795 fighters from Dagestan have been officially recognized as killed.

As reported by the "Caucasian Knot," by January 31, at least 1,794 fighters from Dagestan had been officially recognized as killed in the military operation.

Muslim Muslimov was killed in the military operation, Dagestan's head Sergey Melikov announced today on his Telegram channel. He noted that he personally knew Muslimov, who served in the 74th Motorized Rifle Brigade and "was on the front lines from the first months of the Central Military District."

"In 2024, for one of his heroic deeds, Muslim was awarded the highest title (probably referring to the title of Hero of Russia - note from the "Caucasian Knot"), and the Gold Star was presented to our fellow countryman personally by the Russian Minister of Defense," the official wrote.

The administration of the head and government of Dagestan announced that Muslimov had been awarded the title of Hero of Russia on its Telegram channel on August 21, 2024. Muslimov became the 12th Hero of Russia from Dagestan during the military operation, the republic's authorities noted at the time.

"Born in August 1998 in the village of Rutul, Rutul District. He has been in the special military operation zone since March 2022. During this time, he rose from soldier to officer. After his brother was killed in the SVO, he went to study at an early officer training course. In June 2023, the junior lieutenant was entrusted with command of a platoon. Just six months later, the talented commander was promoted to lieutenant ahead of schedule and entrusted with a company," Muslimov's biography is quoted in that publication.

13:25 30.01.2026

Authorities have officially recognized more than 8,550 fighters from southern Russia as killed in the military operation

At least 4,213 fighters from the North Caucasus Federal District and 4,344 from the Southern Federal District have been recognized by authorities and security forces as killed during the military operation in Ukraine.

Thus, at least 1,795 soldiers from Dagestan have been officially recognized as killed in the military operation.

The "Caucasian Knot" maintains a list of names of natives of the North Caucasus and Southern Federal Districts killed in the military operation. The list is based on data officially released by government officials and law enforcement agencies, according to the "Caucasian Knot" report "North Caucasus Military District Statistics: Losses Are Mounting for Southern Russia".

State awards, memorial plaques, and appearances on Channel One do not guarantee state support for the families of those killed, according to the "Caucasian Knot" report "Three Comrades Served: How the Authorities Are Depriving the Families of Killed Volunteers of Benefits," which describes the stories of the slain soldiers. "Staff from the St. Petersburg administration and the military registration and enlistment office asked me themselves if my son's body had been found. In January 2023, I told them in response to another call that the body had been found," the mother of one of them said.