Leaked Video Exposes Russian Commander Forcing Soldiers into Fight to the Death in War Punishment Pit

A disturbing video has surfaced online, supposedly showing a Russian commander forcing two of his own soldiers to fight each other to the death. This happened after the soldiers refused to join the war in Ukraine. The shocking scene is believed to have taken place in the Donbas region, which is under Russian control. The footage, though not yet verified, has spread across Russian social media and has shocked many viewers.

The commander, known only by his nickname “Kama,” reportedly made the two men fight in what he called a “gladiator-style battle.” According to reports, he told them that whoever won the fight would be set free. Fellow officers from their military unit, the 114th Motorised Rifle Brigade, are said to have placed bets on who would survive. A witness claimed that one of the soldiers ended up killing the other by choking him with his bare hands.

Both of the men had apparently refused to follow orders to fight in the war, which is why they were punished. Russian sources call such soldiers “refuseniks.” It’s believed that soldiers who resist or try to escape their duties are being locked up in underground pits, known as “punishment pits” or “zindans.” This brutal punishment is said to be happening more often, especially in army units that have lost many men during battles in the Donetsk area.

People on Russian social media reacted with horror after watching the video. One person commented that while it’s better for Russian soldiers to fight each other than to harm Ukrainians, the situation is still extremely disturbing and shows just how brutal the Russian army has become. Another user said this kind of cruelty isn’t rare in the Russian military and that without proper investigations, their justice system is meaningless.

One of the most alarming parts of the story is that these punishments are not new. Human rights groups and Russian journalists have already reported cases of beatings, mock killings, and torture being used against Russian soldiers who don’t obey orders. Many of these soldiers are imprisoned in basements or cages without a trial, sometimes for weeks, given barely any food or water.

A lot of the soldiers in these units are either former prisoners, people forced into military service, or untrained volunteers from poor areas of Russia. These groups have suffered heavy losses in the war, especially during Russia’s large-scale attacks on strong Ukrainian defenses. This strategy, where poorly equipped troops are sent forward in huge numbers, has been called a “meatgrinder” by war analysts.

One recent example is the battle in Avdiivka, where thousands of Russian troops died just to gain a small amount of land. Now, a similar situation is starting near Chasiv Yar. These risky and costly operations are often led by lower-ranking commanders like Kama, who are allowed to use any method they want to keep soldiers under control, even if it means using fear or violence.

The Russian government has not responded to this video or the growing reports of illegal punishments in its army. Investigations into these kinds of abuses rarely happen, and the commanders responsible are almost never punished. Without outside pressure or public attention, such brutal treatment is likely to continue unchecked.