--- title: "Inventory Number System: How Russia Marks Foreign Mercenaries to Conceal Casualties" description: "πŸ”΄ HUR MODU reveals shocking practice: Russia marks foreign mercenaries with \"inventory numbers\" on their bodies. πŸ“Œ Instead of dog tags, they use henna and jaguaβ€”marks do not wash off for weeks. πŸ“Œ Police check migrants and students for numbers to catch deserters. πŸ“Œ Goal is to hide real casualties: bodies remain unidentified, and fighters are listed as \"missing.\" πŸ“‰ Data is being transferred to international tribunals. #Ukraine #HUR #Mercenaries #War2026" date: 2026-08-17T11:44:00.000Z lang: en url: https://xab.info/en/posts/russia-marks-mercenaries-with-inventory-numbers-en tags: [ukraine-war, gur-mou, mercenaries, russia, military-intelligence] publisher: "XAB.info" --- # Inventory Number System: How Russia Marks Foreign Mercenaries to Conceal Casualties ![Russian soldier in camouflage with weapon and Russian flag on sleeve β€” example of foreign mercenaries marked by inventory number system to conceal losses](https://xab.info/media/2026/08/17/rossiya-markiruet-naemnikov-inventarnymi-nomerami/rossiya-markiruet-naemnikov-inventarnymi-nomerami-1.webp) ## 🎯 Key Points - Russia uses durable paints (henna, jagua) to mark mercenaries instead of dog tags. - Markings are applied to the body to prevent desertion and conceal casualties. - Police check civilians for the presence of numbers. - Information is being transferred for international tribunals. The Main Directorate of Intelligence of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine (HUR MODU) has revealed a new, detailed methodology used by the Russian side to manage foreign mercenaries. According to intelligence data, the Russian occupation army has implemented a system of serial numbers designed to replace traditional identification dog tags for citizens of other countries. ### Marking Technology: From Dog Tags to Tattoos Instead of familiar metal military dog tags, which can be lost or removed from the body of a deceased person, mercenaries are assigned so-called "inventory numbers." These markings are applied directly to the soldier's skin or to elements of their gear. Durable coloring agents, specifically henna and jagua, are used for application. Intelligence notes that such marks are highly resistant: they do not wash off with soap and water and can remain on a person's body for several weeks. If the number becomes indistinct, it is reapplied. ### Police vs. Deserters: New Control Methods Intelligence has recorded instances where Russian police conducted checks on civilians for the presence of such markings. In particular, law enforcement agencies stopped students and labor migrants to inspect their bodies for numbers. According to HUR, this is done to identify desertersβ€”mercenaries who attempted to flee the front line by discarding their gear but remained with a mark that is invisible to the average person but noticeable to security forces. ### Concealing Real Casualties and Statistics Intelligence analysts believe that the main goal of such a system is to conceal the real scale of casualties among foreign mercenaries. The use of inventory numbers allows Russian command to record deceased soldiers as "missing in action" or leave their bodies on the battlefield with unidentified status. This creates difficulties in accounting for casualties and allows for the distortion of official combat statistics, hiding the true cost of occupation policy. ### International Resonance and Future Tribunals The collected data on the marking system and specific cases of its application are already being transferred to foreign partners and law enforcement agencies. HUR emphasizes that this information will be used in the materials of future international tribunals to document war crimes and mechanisms of coercion of foreign citizens into combat operations. In the context of the current situation on the front, Ukraine has significantly increased the use of its own "Flamingo" cruise missiles against Russian territory during the summer, which also affects the dynamics of casualties and the enemy's need to conceal them. ## πŸ” Fact-Check Verification - [Bodies of mercenaries from Kenya found in Donbas: HUR reveals details](https://www.unian.net/war/na-donbasse-nashli-tela-naemnikov-iz-kenii-v-gur-raskryli-detali-13278426.html) - Π˜ΡΡ‚ΠΎΡ‡Π½ΠΈΠΊ ΠΏΠΎΠ΄Ρ‚Π²Π΅Ρ€ΠΆΠ΄Π°Π΅Ρ‚ Π½Π°Π»ΠΈΡ‡ΠΈΠ΅ ΠΏΡ€Π°ΠΊΡ‚ΠΈΠΊΠΈ ΠΌΠ°Ρ€ΠΊΠΈΡ€ΠΎΠ²ΠΊΠΈ ΠΈ использованиС Π½Π°Π΅ΠΌΠ½ΠΈΠΊΠΎΠ², Ρ‡Ρ‚ΠΎ ΠΊΠΎΡ€Ρ€Π΅Π»ΠΈΡ€ΡƒΠ΅Ρ‚ с Π΄Π°Π½Π½Ρ‹ΠΌΠΈ Π“Π£Π  ΠΎ систСмС Π½ΠΎΠΌΠ΅Ρ€ΠΎΠ². ## ❓ FAQ ### Q: What paints are used to mark mercenaries? **A:** According to HUR, durable paints, specifically henna and jagua, are used, which do not wash off with soap and water. ### Q: Why does Russia need such a marking system? **A:** The system allows for the identification of deserters among the civilian population and the concealment of real casualties by recording the dead as unidentified.