Russian officers killing own troops who refuse combat, investigation finds

Russian military officers are executing or deliberately sending to their deaths soldiers who refuse to fight in Ukraine, a comprehensive investigation by the independent Russian outlet Verstka has revealed, as reported by The Guardian.

The exiled news organisation documented at least 150 verified deaths of Russian servicemen at the hands of their own commanders, though researchers believe the actual figure is considerably higher.

Drawing on testimony from active soldiers, families of the deceased, leaked footage and official records, Verstka identified 101 Russian military personnel allegedly involved in murdering, torturing or fatally punishing fellow troops who refused combat orders.

The investigation uncovered multiple methods commanders use to enforce discipline through terror, including appointing designated “execution shooters” tasked with killing soldiers who disobey orders.

These shooters reportedly dump bodies in waterways or shallow graves, later registering the victims as killed in action, according to soldier testimonies cited in the report.

Other documented tactics include commanders ordering drone operators to drop grenades on retreating or wounded Russian troops, disguising these killings as enemy strikes.

The outlet’s investigation also revealed torture practices, with disobedient soldiers reportedly thrown into pits covered with metal grates, where they were soaked with water and beaten for extended periods.

In some particularly disturbing cases, commanders allegedly forced soldiers to fight each other in what witnesses described as death matches. One such incident appeared in footage circulated in May 2025 by Ukrainian monitoring groups, showing two shirtless men in a pit being ordered to fight to the death.

The report also linked several killings to extortion, with commanders demanding payment from soldiers to avoid suicide missions. Those unable or unwilling to pay were “zeroed” – military slang for elimination.

Though initially concentrated in penal units comprised of recruited prisoners, the investigation suggests these practices have spread to regular Russian forces, creating what researchers describe as a “normalised violence” culture.

Despite having biographical details for more than 60 alleged perpetrators, Verstka reports that almost none have faced charges. A military prosecutor’s office source told investigators there was an informal ban on investigating commanders in combat zones, granting them “total impunity”.

Official records obtained by the outlet show Russia’s military prosecutor received nearly 29,000 complaints from soldiers and families in the first half of 2025 alone, with over 12,000 related to punishment by superiors.

The Kremlin has consistently denied allegations of such indiscipline within its forces, instead claiming these problems exist in the Ukrainian military.

(information from The Guardian)