Death Conveyor: Zinc Coffins Found in Dumps Across Russia

In several regions of Russia, the reports of illegal dumping of zinc coffins have become increasingly common.

The Moscow Times highlighted that those coffins had originally been meant to transport the bodies of fallen Russian soldiers.

“The scale of these discoveries is truly staggering: dozens, and at times even hundreds, of coffins are found abandoned in open space, frequently near railway stations or morgues,” the newspaper reported.

Local residents who come across these disturbing discoveries often raise the alarm, noting a terrible odor and potential public health risks.

However, the authorities typically overlook these reports or respond with only formal replies.

“It feels like a sort of death conveyor belt. They are discarded here like trash, with no regard for their proper disposal,” said a resident of a village near Yekaterinburg, where around a hundred zinc coffins were discovered.

The publication suggests that this large-scale discovery reflects the heavy losses sustained by the Russian army in Ukraine and the military’s struggle to manage logistics and proper handling of the remains.

“This points to an overwhelmed system, where the military shows little regard for basic decency. The priority is simply to return the bodies home, with little concern for what happens afterward,” the newspaper stated.

On March 6, another mass dumping of zinc coffins was discovered in the town of Volzhsky, near Volgograd. Local residents reported seeing coffins, wooden boxes, and black bags scattered in an empty lot near an industrial area.

Two weeks prior, dozens of coffins were discovered at a landfill in Novosibirsk. One of the coffins was marked with a sheet containing information about the deceased—a soldier from the 41st Combined Arms Army of the Central Military District. In January, similar mysterious coffins began appearing at a landfill in the Lyublino district of Moscow.

They appeared every morning, in particular zinc ones, although there are no cemeteries or morgues nearby.

According to the latest data from the Ukrainian General Staff, the total combat losses of the Russian Federation from February 24, 2022 to March 07, 2025 were approximately 882,950 people killed and wounded.