Alarming Allegations of Cannibalism Among Russian Soldiers in Ukraine

Disturbing Claims from the Frontlines

A recent report has surfaced, suggesting that Russian troops engaged in cannibalism amid dwindling supplies during the harsh winter months in Ukraine. These serious accusations were made by Ukrainian military intelligence officials who provided evidence, including photographs and purported audio recordings from senior Russian military personnel, to a media outlet. Ukrainian soldiers indicated that their cybersecurity teams managed to obtain this evidence via Telegram. As of now, there has been no official response from Russia regarding these claims.

One Ukrainian soldier recounted witnessing at least five instances where Russian soldiers allegedly resorted to cannibalism, as reported by their comrades or commanders, during the severe winter when resupply was challenging. The report also highlighted that those who reportedly engaged in such acts might have been suffering from severe psychological distress due to the battlefield conditions, leading them to take drastic actions.

Specific Incidents of Cannibalism

What do the claims say?

In one shocking incident, a Russian soldier known by the call sign 'Khromoy', which translates to 'limpy', was allegedly caught killing two fellow soldiers and attempting to consume one of their legs. This event reportedly took place in the heavily contested Donetsk region in November 2025. According to Ukrainian sources, he was part of the 95th Regiment of the 5th Separate Guards Motor Rifle Brigade.

The incident was reported to Lieutenant Razikov Vladislav Abdulkhalykovych, the deputy commander of the 5th Brigade’s reconnaissance battalion, via Telegram. The informant shared several images, including a graphic photo of the leg and one of a malnourished soldier. The media outlet confirmed that these images were authentic and not digitally manipulated.

In intercepted voice messages, the unnamed soldier detailed the horrific event to Abdulkhalykovych, stating, 'In short, one ally killed two others, and he tried… he cut off a leg and was already trying to eat one of them.' He further explained how two soldiers went to locate Khromoy, who had been missing for a while. Upon finding him, they discovered he had taken his victims to a basement, where he was attempting to prepare the meat for consumption. When confronted, Khromoy opened fire, leading to his death.

The soldier also expressed confusion about how Khromoy acquired a meat grinder, adding, 'I have no idea where he got that meat grinder. That’s the most interesting part.' In response to inquiries about food supplies for Russian troops, the soldier ominously remarked, 'Ours will also soon start eating each other… All the guys are skinny. Everyone is on starvation rations.'

In another reported case, a soldier with the call sign 'Most' voiced his concerns in April 2025 about sharing a dugout with another officer near Donetsk. Additionally, in October 2025, the commander of Russia’s 1437th Motorized Rifle Regiment accused one of his soldiers of cannibalism while stationed near Pokrovsk, expressing frustration over the situation and using derogatory language towards Ukrainians.

While these claims have been made by Ukrainian intelligence, they remain unverified, and Russia has consistently labeled such intercepted communications as 'fake.'