Ukrainian Claims: Russian Soldiers Facing Harsh Conditions and Alleged Drone Assassinations
In the ongoing conflict, accusations of inhumane treatment within the Russian armed forces persist. Disobedient soldiers at the frontline are allegedly threatened with death, and deserters face severe consequences, according to Ukrainian sources. A striking allegation surfaces, with Kyiv Post reporting that Russian soldiers are being killed by drones by their own commanders to prevent capture.
A Tavriya armed forces spokesperson, Oleksandr Stupun, and an intelligence service spokesman, Andriy Yusov, echoed this claim. They assert that the Russians do not allow their soldiers to surrender and that drone killings have been repeatedly observed. Ukrainian aerial reconnaissance also apparently captured these events on camera.
These reports, however, remain unverified, and no concrete evidence has been released to substantiate these claims. Regardless, historical reports have highlighted instances of the Russian army employing harsh methods, such as sending soldiers en masse towards Ukrainian positions, considering any opposition or retreat as disloyalty, and potentially threatening entire units with execution.
Additional Insights
Prisoner Exchange Impasse
Russian soldiers who surrender to Ukraine's armed forces have reportedly occurred repeatedly, with Ukrainian human rights commissioner, Dmitro Lubinez, alleging that Moscow is obstructing prisoner exchanges. The Ukrainian parliament's human rights commissioner claims that the exchange process has stalled due to Russia's refusal to accept its own soldiers back. Kiev, however, counters, stating that Moscow faults Ukraine for not pursuing the exchange actively.
Blockade Units and Drone Attacks
Last year, the British Ministry of Defense reported that blockade units were deployed by Russia to prevent soldiers from retreating even in hopeless situations. The Ministry's concern was that these units could potentially trap soldiers in dangerous circumstances.
A Ukrainian published drone video from the summer highlighted the presence of Russian soldiers, which appeared to eliminate deserters or defectors within their ranks.
While no irrefutable evidence exists proving the drone-assassination claims, the broader picture surrounding the conflict raises concerns about human rights violations and harsh military discipline within the Russian armed forces.
