Russian General Demurchiev tortured and killed Ukrainian soldiers — investigation
Journalistic investigations by the projects Schemes and System have revealed shocking details about the activities of Russian Major General Roman Demurchiev, deputy commander of the 20th Combined Arms Army. His correspondence archive from 2022–2024 indicates that torture, extrajudicial executions, and abuse of Ukrainian soldiers’ bodies were not only tolerated but actively encouraged by senior Russian leadership.
This was reported with reference to Schemes.
Some incidents concern the handing over of detained civilians to be “left forever” (killed) while digging trenches.
Journalists received the archive of correspondence from sources within the Ukrainian army and verified its authenticity. As of now, 49-year-old Demurchiev holds the rank of Major General and has received awards from Putin, Kadyrov, and the Governor of Moscow Oblast.
In October 2022, after storming a strongpoint in Donetsk region, Demurchiev sent his wife, Oleksandra, and colleagues a photograph of human ears cut off and threaded onto a metal pipe.
From the dialogue:
– “And then what should we do with them?” asked his wife.
– “I’ll make a garland and give it as a gift,” replied the general.
Demurchiev discussed this with his associate, Major General Igor Timofeyev, referencing the Chechen war as “childhood,” where such practices were considered normal.
The correspondence contains thermal-imaging videos and audio reports about the execution of three Ukrainian soldiers near Makiivka (Donetsk region). Russian “prisoners” from the Black Mamba unit killed surrendered POWs with entrenching tools. Demurchiev reacted with laughter and discussion with friends, while the commander of the 20th Army, Oleg Mityayev, ordered the killers to be awarded state honours: “Well done, crush the bastards.”
The general regularly communicated with a military counterintelligence officer nicknamed “Greek.” In their exchanges, they discussed handing over prisoners as “gifts” for torture.
"We didn’t have time just to torture him… But you lot have plenty of time, you can use various tools to make a person tell the truth," Demurchiev wrote to “Greek.”
Some incidents involve handing over detained civilians to be “left forever” (killed) while digging trenches, bypassing official legal procedures.
These actions constitute a direct violation of the 1949 Geneva Convention, which prohibits torture, killing of prisoners, and desecration of bodies. Under international humanitarian law, a commander is responsible not only for his own orders but also for knowing about crimes committed by subordinates and failing to stop them.
In Kherson region, a Russian FSB colonel is on trial for kidnapping and torturing civilians.
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