Russian soldiers have revealed the brutality of conditions on their side on the Ukrainian frontline, with two men telling the BBC they witnessed commanders executing soldiers who refused orders.
The men on the run spoke of the horrors they witnessed at an undisclosed location outside Russia in the documentary ‘Zero Line: Inside the Russian War.’
Ilya, 35, taught children with special needs before being drafted into the army for war. He said he saw a commander shoot four people at close range after they fled from the front line and refused to return. This is an act known in Russian military slang as zeroing.
Zeroing is usually performed as punishment for disobeying orders and acts as a means of intimidating others who try to do the same, the men said.
Dima, another man who witnessed the execution, said it was “normal” for commanders to kill their own soldiers.
“Okay, all you need is two or three metres. It’s just a murder. Just snap, snap, bang. It’s not a drama, it’s not a movie, it’s real life,” he says.
The Russian government said its military “operates with the greatest possible restraint in high-intensity conflict situations and treats its personnel with the utmost care.” He added, “Information regarding alleged violations and crimes is being properly investigated,” adding, “We cannot independently verify the accuracy or authenticity of the information you provided.”
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