Betrayal from Above: Russia’s Drone Attacks on Its Own

Russia Accused of Using Drones to Eliminate Its Own Injured Soldiers

In a disturbing revelation, Ukraine’s defense forces have accused Russian military units of using drones to eliminate their own wounded soldiers, aiming to prevent them from surrendering.

Officials from the Ukrainian military have described this practice, which emphasizes the extreme measures used in the ongoing conflict.

Oleksandr Stupun, spokesperson for Ukraine’s Tauride Defense Forces, shared alarming insights during a television interview.

“There have been instances where Russian drones have targeted their own injured troops to prevent them from being captured,” Stupun stated.

Andriy Yusov, a representative from Ukraine’s military intelligence agency, the HUR, corroborated this assertion. Yusov cited numerous documented instances of Russia using lethal tactics against its own forces, some of which Ukrainian drones even captured.

The accusation is not without precedent. Russia has faced earlier claims of employing severe measures against its troops, particularly those attempting to retreat or surrender.

In one such instance reported by a Ukrainian unit in September, Russian soldiers surrendering were allegedly shot and killed by their own artillery, an incident recorded by a Ukrainian drone.

Moreover, Western intelligence sources and statements from Russian soldiers themselves indicate the use of barrier units. These units reportedly operate behind the frontline soldiers, enforcing a “fight to the death” directive, and threatening to shoot any who attempt to withdraw.

The UK Ministry of Defence confirmed last year that Russia had initiated the use of barrier troops, presumably to ensure that Russian soldiers defend their positions in Ukraine at all costs.

Yusov reportedly added, “The use of barrier units and the killing of their own soldiers is, regrettably, a reality for the Russian army against its own forces.”

This strategy aligns with multiple reports of Russian soldiers willingly surrendering to Ukrainian forces, even offering to surrender equipment and heavy armored vehicles.

Ukraine, in response to these developments, has established a hotline for Russian soldiers wishing to surrender. According to Ukrainian authorities, numerous Russian soldiers have reached out through this hotline, signaling a potential crisis of morale and discipline within the Russian ranks.

As the conflict continues, these reports of Russia’s harsh tactics towards its own soldiers highlight the complexities and brutal realities of modern warfare, raising significant questions about the ethical conduct of military operations.