A Russian colonel has claimed Wagner mercenaries are raping, kidnapping and torturing Vladimir Putin’s soldiers.
Lieutenant Colonel Roman Venevitin, who was captured near the embattled Ukrainian town of Bakhmut, claimed he was tortured by Wagner mercenaries despite being on the same side of the Russian war.
“Wagner mercenaries stole two T-80 tanks, four guns, a KAMAZ truck and armored vehicles,” Venevitin said. “The Wagner mercenaries took them as war trophies [even though we are supposed to be on the same side].’
In an extraordinary lawsuit, Venevitin said, “Our soldiers were kidnapped, during which they were physically abused and humiliated.” One of our battalion’s NCOs was kidnapped and tortured.
“He was kept naked on the cold floor in a basement.”
Russian Lieutenant Colonel Roman Venevitin claimed that Wagner troops, allegedly siding with Russia in the war, kidnapped Russian soldiers before torturing and raping them
Venevitin claimed Wagner mercenaries (pictured with Wagner boss Yevgeny Prigozhin in Bakhmut) raped, kidnapped and tortured Vladimir Putin’s soldiers
Venevitin claimed, “They sprayed acid in his eyes, causing him to temporarily lose his sight, he was doused in petrol and…” [they] tried to burn him.
“One of the soldiers was beaten up and raped by Wagner mercenaries.” He couldn’t survive the humiliation and killed himself.’
In a video staged by Putin’s top men, he also accused Wagner boss Yevgeny Prigozhin of discrediting the Russian army – a crime that could lead to his prison sentence.
Venevitin said kidnapped Russian soldiers were returned to Putin’s army in exchange for ammunition that, Wagner claims, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu failed to provide them with.
He said the Russian soldiers were used as “loader slaves”. [dead bodies] And [wounded soldiers]’, or forced to sign treaties and leave the army for Wagner.
“That weakened the Russian flanks at the Battle of Bakhmut,” he said.
He apparently read his statement on camera and said of Prigozhin: “You are actively discrediting the Russian armed forces.”
This allegation indicates that the authorities are preparing an indictment against Prigozhin.
‘I [am speaking] “To bring the truth about what happened to the Russian public and tell some facts about the so-called Wagner,” he said. “Honour requires that I do.”
Venevitin said he himself was tortured during his kidnapping by Wagner mercenaries after he was accused of opening fire on them as they withdrew from Bachmut.
“I was tortured in a basement when I was captured,” he said. “They tortured me worse than an angry Russian soldier would treat a captured Ukrainian.”
“I was beaten up, deprived of sleep, forced outside three times during the night where an execution by firing squad was staged.” [squad].’
Earlier this week, video surfaced of Venevitin being captured by Wagner in the latest example of bitter infighting in Russia’s ranks.
Venevitin was seen hanging his head in a humiliating video released by the Wagner Group, in which he confessed his “guilt” and admitted being drunk on duty after he allegedly shot a Wagner vehicle had.
According to the private army, the shooting damaged a Ural supply truck but did not injure any Wagner soldiers.
Venevitin also confessed to leading a group of 10 to 12 Russian army soldiers who “disarmed” a Wagner Rapid Reaction Group.
This followed claims by the mercenaries that the regular Russian army had been shelling their ranks with mines, as a clip showed their sappers clearing the explosive devices from a road.
Wagner mercenaries fought for Putin in Ukraine and are credited with capturing the embattled city of Bakhmut from Ukrainian forces after months of bloody warfare.
But their success has apparently angered the regular commanders of the Russian army.
Wagner boss Prigozhin has unleashed several verbal tirades against Putin’s military leader. He accuses them of ordering their troops to withdraw from their positions, leaving the Wagner fighters defenseless at the front.
In Prigozhin’s latest tirade, he claimed Russia could nuke its own territory in the Belgorod region, where anti-Putin insurgents are wreaking havoc.
Yevgeny Prigozhin warned that Russia could be forced to use nuclear weapons in the Belgorod region bordering Ukraine, where pro-Ukrainian Russian volunteer units have conducted a series of cross-border raids and reportedly taken hostages
Prigozhin warned that Russia could be forced to use nuclear weapons in the Belgorod region bordering Ukraine, where pro-Ukrainian Russian volunteer units have conducted a series of cross-border raids and reportedly taken hostages.
Prigozhin, who has been highly critical of the Russian army, said Putin’s troops could pull out of the region because the Kremlin wants to “drop a tactical nuclear bomb on their own territory.”
In recent weeks, pro-Kievin paramilitary groups made up of Russians who have been fighting alongside Ukrainian forces have been making forays across the border into Russian territory and attacking the Belgorod region.
Prigozhin’s latest tirade came after he called “absurd science fiction” claims by the Russian Defense Ministry that it had killed 1,500 Kiev soldiers in two days in the contested town of Bakhmut.
In remarks published on his press service’s Telegram channel, the 61-year-old said it took daily increments of 150 km (93 miles) to kill many Ukrainian troops.
“So I think this is just wild and absurd science fiction,” Prigozhin said.
Adding up the Ministry’s figures would mean that “we’ve already destroyed the entire planet five times,” he added sarcastically.
Prigozhin criticized Russian military leaders last week after Ukrainian forces managed to retake settlements on the outskirts of Bakhmut.
Wagner boss Yevgeny Prigozhin has unleashed several verbal tirades against Putin’s military leader. He accuses them of ordering their troops to retreat from their positions, leaving the Wagner fighters defenseless at the front
Prigozhin said it was a “shame” that Kiev troops managed to push back Russian lines and capture Berkhivka, a town in the northern suburbs of the embattled city.
The mercenary figurehead lashed out at Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and army chief Valery Gerasimov, taunting them and urging them to go to the front and see the failures for themselves as the armed factions move toward civil war.
“Now part of the settlement [Berkhivka] is already lost, the troops are slowly retreating. Such a shame!
“Shoigu, Gerasimov, I urge you to come to the front and point your pistols at your men to make them advance.” Come on, you can!
“And if you fail, you will die a hero.”
Prigozhin has unleashed several verbal tirades against Putin’s military leaders. He accuses them of ordering their troops to withdraw from their positions and leaving Wagner fighters defenseless at the front.
Last week, Prigozhin unleashed an explosive tirade against Putin’s cronies after Moscow was attacked by suspected Ukrainian kamikaze drones.
In a furious 70-second tirade, Prigozhin yelled vulgar insults at Russian defense officials, calling them “stinking scumbags” and “shit”.
The Wagner boss said he was “deeply outraged” that Putin’s troops are doing “every damn thing” this morning to prevent explosive drones from falling on the Russian capital. Shortly thereafter, Putin claimed that Moscow’s air defense system was functioning “satisfactorily.”
Prigozhin, who handed Bakhmut over to the Russian army last week and is known for his foul-mouthed tirades, was translated as shouting, “Smelly scumbags!” What are you doing? Get your opinion from the offices you have been assigned to protect this country.’
Its stunning collapse came after several buildings in affluent Moscow suburbs were damaged by suspected Ukrainian kamikaze drones, just hours after Putin launched attacks on Kiev.
He said, “You’re the Department of Defense.” You did everything damn to get ahead. Why the hell are you allowing these drones to fly to Moscow? Who cares if they fly to your home on the Rublevka! let your houses burn.
“And what are normal people supposed to do when drones crash into their windows with explosives?” As a citizen, I am deeply outraged that this scum sits quietly with their fat asshole smeared with expensive creams.
“And so I think people have every right to ask them these questions, this shit.”
“But I’ve warned about it many times before, but nobody wants to listen. Because I’m angry and piss off bureaucrats who have a great life.”
Prigozhin’s outbursts highlight the rift within the Kremlin’s forces fighting Ukraine, and some analysts see the possibility of a civil war in Russia if Putin loses the war.
Despite heavy losses and a ban on recruiting prisoners from Russian penal colonies, Prigozhin probably still has up to 60,000 men.
Wagner is one of several private armies in Russia. Chechen warlord leader Ramzan Kadyrov controls his own heavily armed group, and Russian energy giant Gazprom has set up its own private military company.