The name of the soldier from Kalmykia killed in the special military operation has been revealed.

Lieutenant Yuri Meshchanov from Elista was killed in combat. Since the beginning of the military operation in Ukraine, authorities and security forces have acknowledged at least 260 fighters from Kalmykia as killed.

As reported by "Caucasian Knot", by September 7, authorities and security forces had acknowledged at least 259 fighters as killed in the special military operation in Ukraine.

Yuri Meshchanov was born on January 16, 1972. After graduating from Elista Secondary School, he entered the engineering faculty of Kalmyk State University, reported the state news agency "Kalmykia".

He linked his professional activity with service in various units of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Kalmykia. He completed his service in the internal affairs bodies with the rank of police lieutenant colonel. After the start of the special military operation, he volunteered to join the "BARS-7" unit as part of the 150th Guards Motor Rifle Division.

On December 7, 2024, he was killed in the Belogorovka area as a result of an ammunition drop using a UAV. Lieutenant Meshchanov was buried in March 2025. He was married and raised two children with his wife.

Thus, at least 260 combatants from Kalmykia have been officially recognized as killed on the Ukrainian front. "Caucasian Knot" maintains a named list of natives from the North Caucasus Federal District and Southern Federal District killed in the military operation. The list is compiled based on data officially announced by representatives of the authorities and security agencies, according to the "Caucasian Knot" report "SVO Statistics: Losses in Southern Russia are Rising".

It was previously reported that Danza Nostaev from Elista was killed in the military operation.

State awards, memorial plaques, and appearances on "Channel One" do not guarantee support from the state for the families of the killed, according to the material from "Caucasian Knot" "Three Comrades Served: How Authorities Deny Benefits to Families of Killed Volunteers", which describes the stories of the killed fighters. "I receive only twelve thousand rubles a month for two minor children as a family of military pensioners," complains the wife of Vasily Shtylun, who received five million rubles from the "Veterans" unit for her husband killed in 2022.