Russian Soldiers Reveal Executions and Torture by Commanders During Brutal Frontline Operations in Eastern Ukraine

A group of Russian soldiers have come forward with chilling accounts of abuse, executions and so-called “meat storm” missions, describing a military culture where fear is often enforced at gunpoint.

In a BBC documentary titled The Zero Line Inside Russia’s War, former servicemen speak candidly about what they say happens behind the scenes — far from the official narratives broadcast on state television.

Their testimonies paint a grim picture of commanders who allegedly punish retreat or refusal with torture, humiliation and even execution.

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“Zeroed” for Refusing Orders

One former soldier, Dima, described witnessing the aftermath of what troops reportedly call being “zeroed” — slang for being executed by your own side.

He recalled seeing the bodies of 20 men dumped in a pit after they were shot for refusing orders.

Dima, 34, had worked as a paramedic, evacuating wounded soldiers from the front.

He said the 20 men had arrived the previous night and were former convicts recruited into service.

According to him, they were killed and written off in paperwork as routine losses.

“It’s not hard to erase someone,” he said. “You just file a report.”

Another former soldier, Ilya, who had previously worked as a teacher for children with special needs, said he personally witnessed four men executed after fleeing the front line.

“The saddest thing is that I knew them,” he recalled.

“One of them was screaming, ‘Don’t shoot, I’ll do anything.’

But the commander gave the order anyway.”

He described how commanders would issue orders over the radio, allegedly deciding who would live and who would die with chilling detachment.

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The Horror of “Meat Storm” Missions

Several of the men spoke about what they called “meat storm” assaults — repeated waves of infantry sent forward in what they describe as near-suicidal charges.

Denis, 27, said he watched as commanders sent small groups first, then larger numbers when the first wave failed.

The idea, he claimed, was to overwhelm Ukrainian defenses by exhausting ammunition and drones.

“We lost 200 men in three days,” he said.

“Our regiment was destroyed in just three days.”

Western military analysts have previously noted that Russia has relied heavily on infantry assaults during the war, particularly in contested regions like Luhansk and Zaporizhzhia.

The strategy has been costly, with high casualty figures reported by both Ukrainian and Western intelligence sources.

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Torture as Punishment

The testimonies go further, describing what happens to those who refuse to advance.

Ilya said he was tied to a tree, urinated on and beaten after resisting orders.

A gun was reportedly pressed to his head.

He was mocked by his commander, who allegedly told others they had “a new toilet.”

Dima said he endured 72 days of torture, including electric shocks that left him physically and psychologically broken.

Denis showed a photograph taken after he was assaulted for refusing to search for a missing drone. Two of his front teeth were knocked out.

“It’s illegal,” he said. “But no one gets punished. It’s encouraged.”

Videos circulating online appear to support some of these claims.

In one, a soldier is taped upside down to a tree in freezing weather.

In another, a man is forced to eat snow after being stripped to his underwear.

Some footage shows deserters digging their own graves before being sent back to the front — a form of psychological torment.

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A System Fueled by Fear

The accounts suggest that discipline in some units is enforced not through training or morale, but through fear.

In parts of eastern Ukraine, particularly around Luhansk and Zaporizhzhia, there have been reports of soldiers chained to poles or confined in pits for days without food.

Some were allegedly monitored by drones hovering overhead, ensuring they could not escape.

Human rights groups have previously raised concerns about forced mobilization and harsh disciplinary tactics within Russian ranks.

The Kremlin, however, has consistently denied systemic abuse.

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The Psychological Toll

Beyond the physical injuries, the emotional damage is clear.

Dima described recurring nightmares of forests filled with bodies.

“I see smashed faces, blood everywhere,” he said.

“The smell… it doesn’t smell. It tastes.”

At one point, Ilya said he attempted to take his own life after enduring abuse.

The war in Ukraine has already been marked by staggering losses.

Estimates from Western officials suggest Russia has suffered over a million casualties since the invasion began, though Moscow does not publicly confirm such figures.

For these men, survival has come at a heavy cost.

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What’s Next?

As more testimonies emerge and footage circulates online, international scrutiny is likely to intensify.

Human rights organizations may push for independent investigations into allegations of torture and extrajudicial executions.

Whether such probes gain traction will depend largely on access to witnesses and territory — something that remains deeply complicated amid ongoing conflict.

Meanwhile, analysts say the pressure on Russian forces is unlikely to ease soon.

If casualty rates continue to outpace recruitment, internal tensions could grow.

But historically, authoritarian military systems have proven resistant to outside pressure.

For now, the stories shared in the BBC documentary add another disturbing layer to an already devastating war.

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Summary

By ELIANA SILVER, SENIOR FOREIGN NEWS REPORTER
Published: 07:53 EST, 24 February 2026 | Updated: 08:10 EST, 24 February 2026

Former Russian soldiers speaking in a BBC documentary have alleged executions, torture and forced “meat storm” assaults within their own ranks.

Witnesses claim commanders shot deserters, starved and electrocuted refuseniks, and sent waves of men into near-suicidal missions.

As disturbing videos circulate online, the testimonies raise urgent questions about discipline, accountability and the human cost of Russia’s war in Ukraine.