Fact check: How many homicides happened in Russia in 2024 compared to 2023

1. Summary of the results

While exact homicide numbers for the comparison between 2024 and 2023 are not directly available ^[1], we do know that serious crimes in Russia increased from 142,000 in 2023 to a projected 152,000 in 2024, marking a 7% increase and the highest figure in 15 years ^[2].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

Several crucial contextual factors need to be considered:

• The increase in serious crimes is attributed to multiple societal factors:
• Veterans returning from Ukraine
• Rising poverty levels
• Increased alcoholism
• General economic instability ^[2]
• The data shows a broader trend of increasing serious crimes, as 2023's figure of 142,000 was already higher than the initial prediction of 133,000 ^[2]
• Street murders specifically have been noted to increase, suggesting a shift in the nature of violent crimes ^[2]

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original question's focus on just comparing two years might be misleading because:

• Looking at just year-over-year numbers without broader context could mask the long-term trend that's been developing over 15 years ^[2]
• The distinction between "homicides" and "serious crimes" needs to be clarified, as the available data focuses on the broader category of serious crimes ^[2]
• Global homicide trends might differ from Russia's specific situation, making isolated comparisons potentially misleading ^[3]
• Government agencies like the Russian Interior Ministry might have vested interests in how crime statistics are reported and interpreted, particularly during periods of social and economic instability