Russian soldiers tell BBC they saw comrades executed on commanders' orders
Feb 24th 2026
Four men speaking in the BBC documentary The Zero Line: Inside Russia's War say they witnessed commanders order executions, torture and forced 'meat storm' assaults. The BBC says it cannot independently verify all claims and Russia says alleged violations are investigated.
- Four front-line Russian soldiers told the BBC they witnessed commanders order and carry out executions of their own men.
- Witnesses described torture, electrocution, starvation, humiliation and forced assaults known as "meat storms."
- One commander named by a witness, Alexei Ksenofontov, was awarded the Hero of Russia in 2024 and is accused of ordering killings.
- A witness says he saw 20 bodies in a ditch and that commanders took bank cards from the dead.
- The four men are now outside Russia and say they fled after giving testimony.
- The BBC says it cannot independently verify all claims, Russia says alleged crimes are investigated, and the UK Ministry of Defence estimates more than 1.2 million Russian troops have been killed or injured since February 2022.