A Russian commander was intercepted issuing brutal instructions to his troops, as they entered a settlement in Donetsk. Putin’s army is engaged in fierce fighting in the eastern province, as it desperately tries to force a breakthrough on the frontlines.
Russian troops are currently engaged in major offensive to capture Pokrovsk, a key logistical hub for Ukraine’s military. Despite formally annexing the province after a sham referendum in 2022, Putin’s army has still failed to secure full control of the region. As fighting intensifies in the province, Russian soldiers were filmed by a Ukrainian drone as they entered Shandryholove village.
Ukrainian forces were able to eavesdrop on radio messages between the commander and his soldiers.
The senior officer – who has the call sign “Bali” – issues a chilling order to his troops as they prepare to enter the settlement.
“Get ready immediately that you will have to kill people, kill everyone indiscriminately,” he barked. “Everyone indiscriminately! Except children.”
The commander planned to spare the children so they could serve as human shields to protect his forces.
His troops are filmed carrying out his instructions to the letter, as they enter one house and shoot the parents. They then grab their young daughter and force her to go with them.
Ukraine’s Third Army Corps says Russian forces are now using the girl as cover for their military advance towards Lyman.
They say they cannot fire on Russian positions while the child remains in their custody.
Most of the village had been evacuated and it remains unclear why the family decided to remain.
Both the Third Army Corps and Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) stress that early evacuation from combat areas remains the most effective protection against such attacks by Russian forces.
