Russian commanders are executing or deliberately sending to their deaths soldiers who refuse to fight in Ukraine, according to a new investigation by the independent outlet Verstka, which paints a bleak picture of internal violence within the Russian army.
The outlet said it had verified at least 150 deaths, though they said they believed the true tally to be far higher.
The Kremlin has repeatedly rejected allegations of indiscipline among Russian troops, insisting that such problems are instead rife within the Ukrainian army.
But Verstka’s report appears to be the most comprehensive to date, documenting a detailed catalogue of methods used to enforce obedience and terror within the ranks.
Other accounts describe 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.
“They say: ‘If we open this, it could harm operations.’ That means these officers have total impunity,” he said. »