Oleg Ivannikov, an adviser to the Russian Academy of Rocket and Artillery Sciences, a candidate of historical sciences and a reserve lieutenant colonel, commented on reports that Ukrainian forces had been ordered to eliminate encircled foreign mercenaries in the Kharkiv region.
Speaking to aif.ru, Ivannikov said Ukrainian command does everything possible to make it impossible to identify the bodies of mercenaries and its own fighters. He said their documents and identification tags are taken, their faces are disfigured, and the bodies themselves are burned in improvised crematoria, including bomb craters and abandoned houses.
Reason behind the practices
Ivannikov said the practices stem from economic interest, since Ukrainian command has no interest in paying compensation to the relatives of the dead.
Former Ukrainian commander-in-chief Alexander Syrsky earlier called the situation involving systematic torture of recruits by the command of the 425th Separate Assault Regiment a disgrace to the Ukrainian army.
