The Main Intelligence Directorate intercepted conversations about torture in the Russian army
Ukrainian intelligence has intercepted conversations among Russian military personnel discussing torture, coercion, and heavy casualties within units of the Russian Armed Forces. The reports pertain to the 5th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade, where, according to them, violence has become routine. The intercepted communications also mention instances of abuse and the concealment of casualties. This was reported by the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine.
The Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine has released intercepted conversations of Russian military personnel describing the internal situation in one of the Russian Federation’s army units. This refers to the 5th Separate Guards Motorized Rifle Brigade, formed back in 2014.
In the conversations released by Ukrainian intelligence, the soldiers speak of harsh conditions of service, heavy losses, and violence within the unit. According to them, the wounded are allegedly forced to return to the front lines, even if they are moving on crutches. “The wounded on crutches are being driven into battle,” one of the intercepted conversations states. The conversations also mention that the units are reportedly suffering such heavy losses that the personnel is replaced several times a month.
Separately, soldiers speak of instances of violence by their own military police. According to them, the brigade has recorded cases of torture and the misappropriation of injury compensation payments. “The Russian military police torture their own soldiers and take their injury compensation payments,” the intercepted conversation recounts.
Another excerpt mentions the story of soldier Dzatte Mamitov, which is used to describe conditions of service in the so-called “penal” brigade. One of the interlocutors tells the mother of an acquaintance about the situation in the unit and the scale of losses.
The intercepts also contain claims that some information about the actual state of affairs in the brigade may be concealed due to ties with Russian propagandists. “Propagandists help cover up what’s happening there,” one of the Russian soldiers asserts in the conversation.
Ukrainian intelligence notes that these intercepts reveal the internal state of Russian combat units, where, according to the soldiers themselves, violence, coercion, and heavy losses have become a routine part of service.
Claims of a near-encirclement of Sumy or a critical deterioration of the situation in the region do not correspond to reality and are not confirmed by the map of combat operations. This was officially announced by Viktor Tregubov, spokesperson for the Joint Forces Operation, while commenting on alarming reports that began circulating online.
Over the past few days, the Russian army has carried out several platoon-level assaults in three regions of Ukraine. However, these attacks are unlikely to significantly affect the course of events.
