Two contract soldiers from the Astrakhan region were killed in Ukraine.
Viktor Salnikov and Sabir Kabdukulov from the Volodarsky District were killed in combat in Ukraine. Since the beginning of the military operation, at least 726 fighters from the Astrakhan Region have been recognized as killed in it.
As reported by the "Caucasian Knot," by March 15, at least 724 fighters from the Astrakhan Region were officially recognized as killed in the military operation. Then, the Volodar district authorities reported that Ivan Malyshev had been killed in the fighting.
Viktor Salnikov and Sabir Kabdukulov were killed in the military operation, the Volodar district administration reported on its Telegram channel.
Viktor Salnikov was born in 1990. "He worked at various enterprises in the district and region. On March 12, 2024, Viktor Vasilyevich Salnikov decided to go to a special military operation zone and signed a contract with the Russian Ministry of Defense. He was listed as missing in action on August 7, 2024. Our fellow countryman, Viktor Vasilyevich Salnikov [...] died while performing a combat mission," the publication states.
Sabir Kabdukulov – born in 1976. He served under contract at various times, including in Chechnya, and worked for a time in the Justice Ministry's Penitentiary Department.
Kabdukulov signed a contract in November 2023 and was sent to the military operation zone, where he was killed on February 26, 2026, "while performing a combat mission," the statement noted.
Thus, at least 726 soldiers from the Astrakhan region 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 was compiled based on data officially released by government officials and law enforcement agencies, according to the "Caucasian Knot" report "Northern Military District Statistics: Casualties Mounting in 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 Authorities Are Denying Benefits to Families of Killed Volunteers," which describes the stories of the slain soldiers. "He participated in combat operations for many years and holds two Orders of Courage. But no official honors were bestowed upon his family," a relative of one of them said.