Allegations from Ukrainian military intelligence suggest that hungry Russian soldiers in the eastern Ukrainian war zone have turned to cannibalism due to harsh winter conditions and food shortages. According to a Ukrainian official, there are reports of at least five incidents where Russian troops resorted to consuming their fellow soldiers.
Evidence, including photos and intercepted messages, was shared with The Sunday Times by Ukrainian cybersecurity specialists who discovered the material while monitoring communications on the messaging app Telegram. One message from an unidentified Russian officer detailed an incident in November 2025 where a soldier, known as “Khromoy”, allegedly killed two comrades and attempted to eat one near Myrnohrad in the Donetsk region.
The authenticity of the images was confirmed by an analysis from The Sunday Times, with a conflict surgeon suggesting that the injuries depicted were inconsistent with typical combat wounds. Separate audio messages also described the disturbing events, including one where the officer recounted Khromoy’s actions and subsequent demise.
In response to the troubling reports, other instances of alleged cannibalism were mentioned in Telegram conversations. The incidents involved soldiers from different regiments and locations, adding to the gravity of the situation on the front line.
The Russian Embassy in London refrained from commenting on the allegations, dismissing them as propaganda orchestrated by Ukrainian military intelligence. The conflict in Ukraine has taken a heavy toll on Russian forces, with significant casualties reported since the invasion began in February 2022.
The BBC and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky have highlighted the devastating impact of the conflict, with both Russian and Ukrainian casualties numbering in the tens of thousands. However, the actual death toll is believed to be much higher, underscoring the tragic consequences of the ongoing war.
At Reach and across our entities we and our partners use information collected through cookies and other identifiers from your device to improve experience on our site, analyse how it is used and to show personalised advertising. You can opt out of the sale or sharing of your data, at any time clicking the “Do Not Sell or Share my Data” button at the bottom of the webpage. Please note that your preferences are browser specific. Use of our website and any of our services represents your acceptance of the use of cookies and consent to the practices described in our Privacy Notice and Terms and Conditions.