cross-posted from: https://mander.xyz/post/51053536
Intercept released by Ukraine’s Intelligence suggests Russian commanders threaten and beat foreign recruits to force them into near-suicidal assaults.
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An intercepted call released by Ukraine’s military intelligence (HUR) indicates Russian commanders may be coercing newly arrived foreign recruits into high-risk assault operations.
According to HUR, the recording captures conversations between Russian commanders discussing how to handle foreign fighters described as unwilling to carry out assigned missions.
In the call, one voice in Russian instructs a subordinate to prepare for the arrival of foreign personnel.
“Silva, you’re the one I need. Look, tomorrow they’ll bring in foreign specialists to you — they’re ready to carry out tasks, but they don’t really want to do it. Will you be able to force them to go?”
The response suggests that coercion is expected and normalized.
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In a separate part of the conversation, the speaker appears to outline methods of enforcing compliance.
“You can beat the sh*t out of them, just not the legs — we need the legs. But yeah, you can. We’ll have to force them to go, otherwise we’ll have to go ourselves. And there’s no real desire for that, f**k, so we’ll still have to make them.”
Ukrainian intelligence says the exchange reflects a broader pattern of coercion within Russian ranks, extending to foreign nationals recruited to support operations in Ukraine. Physical violence and intimidation remain key tools used by commanders to compel participation in combat missions, particularly among those reluctant to fight.
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Since the start of its full-scale invasion, Russia has sought to supplement its forces with foreign recruits, including individuals from Africa, Asia and the Middle East, often drawn by financial incentives.
HUR has warned foreign citizens against traveling to Russia for work or military service, urging those already deployed to seek surrender through official channels such as the “I Want to Live” initiative.
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According to the Ukrainian state spy agencies
As reported by Ukrainian state media
Russia is using mercenaries
Except the mercenaries don’t want to fight for money, you have to beat them
And the spy agencies and government and state media of Ukraine’s hearts bleed for them
They would never violently coerce their own forces in such a way
Shush.
Right when all the western articles about Ukraine forced conscription are coming out
The above report is obviously not to be taken without a dose of scepticism, as it comes from the military opponent. However your response makes me wonder if you have any source to back up your claim that Ukraine is torturing its foreign volunteers into some meat grinder operations like you imply here. Or did you merely need a line to put the victim of an aggression at the same level as the aggressor without any such thing?
Conscripts being ripped from their homes - https://www.reddit.com/r/PublicFreakout/comments/1su14dm/a_womans_boyfriend_is_kidnapped_off_the_street/
Man documenting his journey of escaping conscription - https://www.reddit.com/r/UkraineRussiaReport/comments/1m4w2ky/ua_pov_the_video_of_the_ukrainian_which_he_shot/
There’s a few telegram pages out there I’ve been following as well if you want them. It documents the foreign volunteers, a lot from Colombia I’ve noticed. They’re severely undersupplied, and end up dying to a drone strike in a cold, wet ditch.
The first video, which, may or may not be from Ukraine today or any time doesn’t show any torture of foreign voluntaries. It looks like conscription. The 2nd link I cannot access, because I will definitely not reopen my reddit account. I am happy visiting it exclusively as a guest, if at all. In either case. I was thinking of a bit more than just some random video on reddit or even worse, Telegram.
Being undersupplied, thanks to Russian supply line attacks, is not the same as torturing people with the sole purpose of making them do something by the superiors.