Leaked messages and voice recordings attributed to a senior Russian general indicate direct knowledge of, and apparent approval for, the torture and killing of Ukrainian prisoners of war, according to an investigation by the Ukrainian outlet “Schemes.”
The materials are said to belong to Major General Roman Demurchiyev, currently serving as deputy commander of Russia’s 20th Combined Arms Army operating in eastern Ukraine. The archive reportedly includes text messages, audio files, and photographs exchanged with other officers and individuals identified as linked to Russia’s security services.
General recorded saying prisoners should be killed, not detained
In several exchanges cited by the investigation, Demurchiyev discusses captured Ukrainian soldiers and suggests they should not be taken prisoner. In one recording, he is heard saying prisoners should be killed rather than detained.
Other messages reference the transfer of detainees for forced labor, followed by their execution to avoid formal legal procedures.
The investigation also reports that Demurchiyev shared photographs of mutilated bodies, including images of severed ears, in private chats.
Journalists said they verified the general’s identity through voice analysis and cross‑checked operational details mentioned in the messages with known battlefield events. Independent forensic specialists reportedly found no signs of manipulation in the archive.
Surrendering soldiers shot, prisoners called "gifts"
One episode described in the materials concerns Ukrainian soldiers captured near Makiivka in late 2024. Video reviewed in the report shows servicemen standing with raised hands before being shot. In a recorded call cited by the outlet, a Russian officer informs a superior that captured Ukrainians were killed after taking a position.
Another set of messages details the treatment of prisoners near Zaporizhzhia. Demurchiyev is recorded discussing Ukrainian soldiers captured in Novoprokopivka and Verbove, saying they were handed to FSB personnel for forced labor before execution.
In one exchange, he calls the prisoners “gifts” and coordinates their interrogation and killing, adding that the process should remain secret. Other files in the archive include photographs showing bodies with visible injuries consistent with beatings and mutilation.
Archive reveals culture of normalized brutality towards animals
The materials also show that cruelty extended to animals. One exchange features Demurchiyev reacting positively to a video of a live mouse being tortured, sent by another officer.
Journalists say such content was circulated casually, suggesting that acts of violence were treated as routine or even entertaining within the unit.
Commanders face responsibility under Geneva Conventions
Under the Geneva Conventions, the execution of prisoners of war is considered a war crime. Commanders can be held responsible if they knew about such acts and did not take reasonable steps to stop them or punish those involved.
The materials attributed to Demurchiyev suggest that these violations were not isolated, but part of a wider pattern of cruelty within some Russian military units.
