Russia, Kursk, platoon, wiped out, video

A group of Russian troops whose brigade has been accused of war crimes has been destroyed by Ukrainian forces, it has been reported, prompting family members of the casualties to express their distress and anger on social media.

During the war started by Russian President Vladimir Putin, Russia’s 155th Marine Brigade of the Pacific Fleet has faced accusations of summarily executing Ukrainian prisoners. Newsweek has emailed the Russian Defense Ministry for comment.

On October 10, personnel from the brigade overran Ukrainian drone operators in the west of the Kursk oblast, where Kyiv’s forces have staged an incursion since August 6, reportedly seizing hundreds of square miles of territory.

In an incident that has sparked international outrage, Kyiv says drone footage shows the nine captured Ukrainians being stripped, ordered to lie down and shot.

Following another incident, Ukraine’s Prosecutor-General’s Office has opened an investigation after video footage circulated on August 16 that purported to show a soldier from the brigade beside a pole with a severed head, allegedly of a Ukrainian soldier.

However, Ukraine’s 95th Airborne Assault Brigade has posted a video of the incident with the Russian one. The Ukrainians said it “brutally avenged all the innocent victims of Russian aggression.”

“In the Kursk region, the enemy suffered significant losses in a battle with Ukrainian paratroopers,” said the Telegram post on October 16, next to graphic images of dead Russian troops, without any further details of the operation. Newsweek has yet to verify the images.

An image of troops from the brigade was posted on the page on the Vkontakte social media platform, dedicated to searching for Russian troops in the war. There was also a message from the wife of one of the purported casualties.

“October 16 was a black day in my life for me,” wrote the woman next to an image she said was of the 155th Motorized Rifle Brigade, 3rd Battalion, 4th Company, 3rd Platoon. It was captioned Ekaterina Bardugo.

“Remember these faces,” the post added, describing them as “heroes” who repelled a Ukrainian attack near the village of Sudzha, which Kyiv’s forces have captured.

“They all gave their lives for you and me, my husband, who is in the lower left corner, among others. I will be proud of you for the rest of my life, I promise,” the VK post added.

By Wednesday afternoon, the post had received over 2,000 views and a number of comments, including one that read: “When will it end … Our poor men.” Another urged Russians to “just leave” Ukrainian territory and “no one will … die at all.”

Other social-media users on the VK page made pleas for information on missing troops from the same brigade. One was the wife of 33-year old Alexey Sandimirov, who was last in contact on September 6.

Another missing man was 23-year-old Danil Smagin, who was last in touch with relatives on September 22 and went in the Kursk direction, southeast of the village of Obukhovka. “He has not returned from battle. Whoever has any information, please let me know,” the plea read.