Russian Commanders Executing Or Torturing Soldiers Who Refuse To Fight In Ukraine: Report

Last Updated:October 30, 2025, 19:36 IST

Verstka reports Russian commanders executing or sending soldiers to death for refusing to fight in Ukraine, with at least 150 deaths verified.

Kremlin has repeatedly denied allegations of indiscipline among Russian troops while claiming that such problems are within the Ukrainian army. (Reuters Image)

Russian commanders are executing or deliberately sending their soldiers to their deaths for refusing to fight in Ukraine, according to a report.

The Guardian quoted an investigation by the independent Russian news outlet Verstka as stating that testimonies of serving soldiers, relatives of the dead, leaked videos and official complaint records have revealed 101 Russian servicemen accused of murdering, torturing or fatally punishing their own comrades. The outlet said it had verified at least 150 deaths, though they believed the true tally to be far higher.

Since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, there have been multiple reports of Russian soldiers being killed by their own side and also of so-called blocking units deployed to prevent retreats.

However, Kremlin has repeatedly denied allegations of indiscipline among Russian troops while claiming that such problems are within the Ukrainian army.

Meanwhile, Verstka in its report cited testimonies from soldiers saying their commanders had appointed “execution shooters" to open fire on refusers and later dump their bodies in rivers or shallow graves while registering them as killed in action.

It also quoted some soldiers saying commanders using drones and explosives to “finish off" wounded or retreating soldiers.

In several cases, officers allegedly ordered drone operators to drop grenades on their own men, disguising the killings as battlefield strikes, The Guardian quoted the report.

Verstka also cited reports that troops who disobeyed orders were allegedly thrown into pits covered with metal grates, doused with water and beaten for hours or even days.

The investigative report also said that there were incidents were commanders demanded payments from soldiers in exchange for avoiding suicide missions.Those who could not pay, or refused, were “zeroed" to be killed.

The Guardian quoted a source in the military prosecutor’s office told the outlet there was an informal ban on investigating cases against commanders serving in combat zones. “They say: ‘If we open this, it could harm operations.’ That means these officers have total impunity," he said.

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