In eastern Ukraine, Ukrainian military intelligence claims that starving Russian soldiers on the front lines have resorted to cannibalism due to harsh winter conditions and a lack of food supplies. Allegedly, a few Russian troops were involved in consuming their fellow soldiers as a means of survival.

Evidence of these disturbing acts, involving at least five reported cases, was shared with The Sunday Times by Ukrainian officials. The material, including purported photographs and intercepted audio messages, was discovered by Ukrainian cybersecurity experts monitoring battlefield communications on the messaging app Telegram.

One incident detailed an unnamed Russian officer informing a deputy reconnaissance commander about a soldier named “Khromoy” who had killed two comrades and attempted to eat one of them near Myrnohrad in the Donetsk region. The Sunday Times analysis found no signs of image manipulation, with a conflict surgeon stating that the injuries appeared non-combat-related and likely caused by a sharp object.

Additional Telegram conversations highlighted separate instances of alleged cannibalism among Russian troops, indicating a disturbing trend within certain units. The Embassy of the Russian Federation in London dismissed the allegations as propaganda from Ukrainian military intelligence, refusing to provide further comments.

Since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by Russia in February 2022, the Center for Strategic and International Studies estimates that Russian forces have suffered around 1.2 million casualties, with up to 325,000 fatalities. The BBC has verified over 180,000 Russian military deaths, though the actual toll is believed to be higher. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reports at least 55,000 Ukrainian soldier deaths, but estimates suggest the number could be significantly more significant.