Russian Independent Outlet Uncovers Widespread 'Zeroing Out' of Soldiers in Military

Investigation Reveals Systemic Extrajudicial Killings

A recent investigation by the Russian independent outlet Verstka has brought to light a disturbing pattern of extrajudicial killings within the Russian military, a practice internally referred to as 'zeroing out' or 'obnulenie'. The report indicates that these summary executions are becoming increasingly widespread, often involving commanders sending personnel on deadly assault missions without proper protection or directly executing them for various reasons.

Verstka's findings, corroborated by other independent media, identified 101 servicemen accused of involvement in these killings, with 79 of these cases independently verified. The outlet suggests the actual number of deaths is likely much higher, with credible accusations involving at least 150 servicemen. Since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine began, Russia's Main Military Prosecutor's Office has reportedly received over 12,000 complaints related to such reprisals, with a significant increase noted in the latter half of 2023.

Methods and Motivations Behind 'Zeroing Out'

The investigation details several methods employed in 'zeroing out' soldiers:

• Deadly Assault Missions: Soldiers are frequently sent on what are described as 'meat assaults' or 'suicide missions' without adequate weapons, support, or equipment, effectively ensuring their demise. One soldier recounted being caught between Ukrainian forces and their own commanders who sought to 'zero them out' for refusing 'stupid, reckless, drunken orders'.
• Direct Executions: Soldiers are shot or tortured to death for acts of 'disobedience', refusing to fight, or attempting to retreat from the front lines.
• Sniper and Drone Attacks: Some commanders allegedly use snipers to eliminate retreating soldiers or deploy drones to kill those who disobey orders.
• Torture Pits: Reports describe 'torture pits'—basements or grated holes—where servicemen are beaten, starved, and sometimes forced to fight each other.

Motivations for these brutal acts are varied, including punishment, intimidation, and financial gain. Commanders are accused of demanding bribes from soldiers to avoid being sent on suicide missions, with refusal to pay leading to 'zeroing out'. There are also allegations of commanders transferring salaries from contract fighters to their own accounts.

Allegations and Lack of Accountability

Specific instances highlighted in the report include Colonel Igor Istrati, commander of Russia's 114th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade, who allegedly ordered executions and torture, sending troops into assaults without proper gear to eliminate targeted soldiers. Another officer, known by the call sign 'Bely', reportedly had snipers kill approximately 60 servicemen over two years for retreating. A conscript named 'Alexei' described a commander ordering a subordinate to gun down any soldiers who refused to join an assault, with their bodies then disposed of in rivers or buried to conceal the crime.

Despite the numerous complaints and widespread nature of these incidents, accountability remains largely absent. Verstka reports an 'informal ban' within the military prosecutor's office on investigating complaints against field commanders deployed in Ukraine. Only a handful of cases have reportedly led to criminal charges, with just five convictions known. Alarmingly, at least five individuals named in the investigation as 'zeroers' have been awarded the title Hero of the Russian Federation.

Concealment and Broader Implications

The bodies of 'zeroed-out' soldiers are often secretly buried, left on the battlefield, or disposed of in ways that prevent identification. Officially, these soldiers are frequently listed as missing in action or deserters, which deprives their families of compensation. This systematic violence, initially observed in penal units and the Wagner Group, appears to have spread to regular Russian forces, fostering a culture of 'normalised violence' within the military. The investigation paints a grim picture of internal brutality and a profound disregard for the lives of Russian military personnel.