Russian military commanders are allegedly executing or deliberately sending their soldiers to die for refusing to fight in Ukraine, according to a report cited by The Guardian.
The British daily quoted an investigation by the independent Russian outlet Verstka, which documented testimonies from serving soldiers, relatives of the dead, leaked videos, and official complaints revealing that at least 101 Russian servicemen have been accused of murdering, torturing, or fatally punishing their own comrades. The outlet said it had verified around 150 deaths, though it believes the true number is likely far higher.
Since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022, there have been multiple reports of Russian troops being killed by their own side, along with claims of “blocking units” stationed to prevent soldiers from retreating. The Kremlin, however, has consistently denied allegations of indiscipline within its ranks, claiming instead that such issues exist in the Ukrainian army.
According to Verstka, several soldiers said their commanders had appointed “execution shooters” to fire on refusers and dispose of their bodies in rivers or shallow graves, later recording them as killed in action. Some soldiers also alleged that drones and explosives were used to “finish off” wounded or retreating troops.
In some cases, officers allegedly ordered drone operators to drop grenades on their own men, disguising the killings as battlefield strikes, The Guardian reported.
The investigation also uncovered accounts of troops who disobeyed orders being thrown into pits, covered with metal grates, doused with water, and beaten for hours or days. Commanders were also accused of demanding payments from soldiers to avoid suicide missions — those who could not pay were reportedly “zeroed,” or killed.
A source in Russia’s military prosecutor’s office told The Guardian there was an informal ban on investigating commanders in combat zones. “They say: ‘If we open this, it could harm operations.’ That means these officers have total impunity,” the source said.
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