“Vyorstka” told about extrajudicial killings in the Russian army

“Vyorstka” published an investigation into violence and extrajudicial punishments in the Russian army. According to military personnel interviewed by journalists, by the third year of the war against Ukraine, the problem of extrajudicial punishments, harassment and “non-status relations” had intensified in the Russian army. The closer to the front line, the more acute this problem is, and former prisoners are especially prone to violence. The victims are mobilized more often than others.

According to “Vyorstka”, one of the main problems due to which the military “became completely angry” is the almost complete absence of vacations and rotation on the front line. In particular, this applies to the most difficult areas, such as Khersonskoe, where fierce fighting has been going on for four months in the area of ​​the Ukrainian bridgehead in Krynky. The article also claims that the Russian military suffered heavy losses in these battles.

In the investigation with reference to the military, as well as to the video sent to the journalists, it is told in particular that the “guilty” servicemen are put naked in a pit in the cold. According to the series, they are also forced to copulate with each other. One of Vorstka’s sources – former prisoner Mikhail Maltsev – recorded a video in which he urged other prisoners not to join the army. It is reported that he died during the storming of Krynok.

“Vyorstka” tells about one more video of the massacre of soldiers against fellow soldiers, during which, apparently, several people were killed. The material tells about several more such cases. It also talks about the mockery of soldiers who refuse to fight or go on an assault – in particular, they are handcuffed to trees and left in the cold without food or drink until they agree to go to the front. “I did not imagine that in the 21st century it is possible to treat people like this. I did not imagine what people are capable of. It is really better in hell than in our war,” says one of the interlocutors of the publication.

There are no comments from the Ministry of Defense or any officials in the material. Cases of violence and extrajudicial killings of Russian servicemen in Ukraine by their colleagues or superiors have been reported on several occasions. Officials either do not comment on these messages or deny them. It is not known whether the perpetrators will be brought to justice according to the law or any criminal cases against them.