Russian soldiers died from alcohol poisoning in the Zaporizhzhia sector, according to the Main Intelligence Directorate
Ukrainian intelligence has intercepted communications between Russian servicemen discussing casualties resulting from a mass alcohol poisoning incident within a unit of the Russian Federation’s 166th Motorized Rifle Regiment in the Orikhiv area.
This was reported by the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine.
According to the intercepted communications, dead Russian soldiers were found at the positions, who, according to the interlocutors, may have been poisoned by low-quality alcohol.
In one segment of the conversation, a Russian soldier mentions a significant number of casualties:
“There was one of our observation posts (OP) there at the SNT, remember, Chingiz, Chingiz, where there are a lot, a lot—200—who got poisoned by ‘blue’,” the intercepted communication states.
Another interlocutor confirms the presence of bodies:
“There were 8 or 10 bodies lying there,” he notes.
According to him, the bodies had not been evacuated for at least five or six days. He also describes that the dead were “covered with sleeping bags” and left at their positions.
The GUR notes that this refers to a unit of the 166th Separate Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 19th Motorized Rifle Division of the Russian Federation’s 58th Army, which is operating in the Orikhiv sector of Zaporizhzhia Oblast.
The agency also reminded Russian soldiers of the opportunity to surrender via a special Telegram bot for the “I Want to Live” project.
Over the past 24 hours, Ukrainian defense forces eliminated 920 Russian soldiers, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported. The agency also provided its customary update on the enemy’s total losses as of May 20, 2026.
Prior to this, the Armed Forces of Ukraine had eliminated another 1,020 Russian soldiers on the front lines over the past 24 hours.
The occupiers complain that the Armed Forces of Ukraine are using drones to cut off the land corridor to Crimea.
