In shocking Breaking News coming from the Russia-Ukraine war, four Russian soldiers have spoken out about the brutal and horrifying conditions inside their own army. In interviews shared in a BBC documentary, the men described executions, torture, and deadly missions that they say were close to suicide.
Their stories give the world a rare look inside the Russian military during the war in Ukraine. These revelations are now part of the Latest News and are being discussed widely in global Daily news highlights.
Soldiers Executed for Refusing Orders
Two of the soldiers said they personally saw commanders shoot their own men for refusing to follow orders.
One soldier explained how he watched a commander execute a man just a few meters away.
“It was just two or three meters away. Click, clack, bang,” he said.
Another soldier, named Ilya, said he saw four men shot at close range because they refused to return to the battlefield. He remembered one of them begging for his life.
“Don’t shoot, I’ll do anything!” the soldier screamed.
But the commander shot him anyway.
The soldiers said the Russian military uses the word “zero” as slang for killing their own troops. According to them, commanders would simply give radio orders saying, “Zero this one. Zero that one.”
Why Were They Executed?
The reasons included:
- Refusing to join dangerous attack missions
- Trying to retreat from heavy fighting
- Questioning orders from commanders
The men said these executions were meant to scare others into obedience.
The “Meat Storm” Missions
The soldiers described deadly attack waves known among troops as “meat storms.” These missions, they said, were like sending men to die.
How Meat Storms Work
According to Dima, one of the former soldiers:
- First, three men are sent forward.
- If they fail, three more are sent.
- If that doesn’t work, 10 are sent.
- Then 50.
Wave after wave of soldiers are pushed forward until the Ukrainian side runs out of ammunition or drones.
“It’s like throwing men as meat,” one soldier said.
In just three days, Dima said 200 men from his regiment were killed. His entire unit was destroyed during its first major assault.
These claims match reports from the UK Ministry of Defence, which estimates that more than 1.2 million Russian troops have been killed or injured since the full invasion began on 24 February 2022.
Torture and Humiliation Inside the Army
The soldiers also described brutal punishment for those who refused to fight.
Ilya said he was tied to a tree and beaten with a baton. A gun was placed against his head. He was humiliated in front of others and treated like an object.
Others were:
- Electrocuted
- Starved for days
- Locked in pits like animals
- Forced into battle without weapons
One video shown in the documentary allegedly shows men being kept in a pit and fed dry grain as if they were animals. The BBC said it could not independently verify all footage.
Denis, another former soldier, said such treatment had become “normal” in the army.
“It’s illegal,” he said, “but nobody is punished.”
A Decorated Commander Accused of Brutality
One commander named by the soldiers was Alexei Ksenofontov. He was awarded Russia’s highest state medal and given the title “Hero of Russia” in 2024.
However, families of dead soldiers later wrote a letter directly to President Vladimir Putin, asking him to investigate alleged brutality in the unit.
The letter claimed that thousands of men had died under this commander and that he continued to receive awards.
Dima called him a “butcher” and said there was “too much blood on his hands.”
Fear, Mobilisation, and Regret
Many of the soldiers said they were forced into the army.
Dima said police stopped him on the street in Moscow in 2022. After checking his passport, they told him he must join the army or go to jail.
Ilya, who used to teach children with special needs in the Ural Mountains, said he was called up suddenly in 2024. He remembered being terrified.
“Nearly everyone was drunk,” he said of the men mobilised with him. “They were shouting about victory. I was just scared.”
Out of 79 men mobilised with him, Ilya says he is the only survivor.
Official Response from Moscow
The Russian government has denied wrongdoing. Officials say their armed forces act with restraint and care, especially in intense conflict situations.
They also stated that any alleged crimes are investigated properly.
However, public opposition to the war inside Russia has been largely silenced. Official casualty numbers are not released by Moscow.
A Rare Look Inside the War
What makes this story part of major Breaking News is that these are rare, on-record statements from Russian soldiers themselves.
The BBC documentary, The Zero Line: Inside Russia’s War, presents firsthand testimony of life on the Russian side of the battlefield.
A former senior officer with 17 years of service also spoke in the film. He said he had never seen such lawlessness in all his years in the military.
These accounts suggest:
- A breakdown of discipline
- Fear-based command systems
- Severe punishment for refusal
- Extremely high casualty rates
As the Russia-Ukraine war continues, stories like these are shaping international opinion and appearing regularly in Daily news highlights around the world.
The war, which began with the full invasion in February 2022, remains one of the biggest global conflicts in recent years. With both sides suffering heavy losses, the human cost continues to grow.
For now, these four men remain in hiding, fearing for their lives. Their decision to speak out has added a powerful new chapter to the ongoing Latest News about the war — a chapter that reveals not only battlefield violence, but also deep fear and suffering within the ranks of the Russian army itself.
