Russian Commanders Ordered to Cut Off Heads of Their Own Fallen Soldiers

Ukraine’s military intelligence has released intercepted communications indicating that Russian commanders are instructing troops to recover only the heads and identification documents of fallen soldiers instead of evacuating entire bodies from the battlefield.

According to the Main Intelligence Directorate of Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense (HUR) on March 16–17, the practice was identified through intercepted conversations between Russian servicemen discussing orders received from their commanders.

According to HUR, the instructions are issued as a logistical measure, with commanders reportedly describing full-body evacuation as difficult or impractical under battlefield conditions.

In one intercepted exchange published by HUR, a Russian soldier explains the directive: “He was ordered, basically, to bring back the head, since it’s difficult to carry the bodies… cut off the head, bring the head along with the documents.”

According to HUR, the conversations reference officers using call signs “Fak” and “Alladin,” who are said to be implementing such orders within their units, including in formations linked to the 12th Guards Tank Regiment.

The intercepted audio also suggests that Russian personnel are aware of the sensitivity of the issue and attempt to avoid discussing it openly. In one exchange, a soldier urges another to move the conversation to private messages to prevent superiors from hearing: “I’ll message you privately, I’ll message you privately—tell me that kind of information in private… our battalion commander can hear.”

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According to HUR, the rationale cited by Russian commanders includes the physical difficulty of transporting bodies, especially when they have remained on the battlefield for extended periods. In such cases, identification is reportedly prioritized over evacuation.

Ukrainian intelligence states that this is not an isolated incident but part of a broader pattern observed in Russian units. According to HUR, similar practices have been recorded in multiple intercepted communications, suggesting a recurring approach to handling battlefield casualties.

The agency added that Russian soldiers involved in the conversations expressed concern primarily about potential disciplinary consequences for disclosing the practice, rather than the act itself.

Earlier, according to the partisan movement ATESH, a clash between Russian units in the temporarily occupied Kherson region in August 2025 resulted in 21 soldiers killed and 17 wounded after troops opened fire on each other, highlighting internal disorganization and tensions within Russian forces.

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