Russian general Roman Demurchievbrags to wife about torturing and executing Ukrainian POWs

Russian Major General Roman Demurchiev, commander of the 90th Tank Division of Russia’s Armed Forces, bragged about murdering Ukrainian prisoners of war (POWs) in correspondence with his wife, according to the investigative news outlet Skhemy, a project of the Radio Liberty.

Roman and Oleksandra Demurchiev

Roman Demurchiev is a 49-year-old native of Kazan, a military school graduate, and a veteran of two Russo-Chechen wars.

Journalists obtained access to his correspondence through sources within the Ukrainian military. In text messages, voice notes, and phone calls, Demurchiev discussed the state of affairs in the Russian army, including sharing classified information. However, his communications with his wife, Oleksandra, and other messages involving extreme cruelty drew the particular attention of journalists.

For instance, the leak included a video of an “interrogation” of a live mouse that had been crucified. Demurchiev responded to the video with approval. The clip was sent to him by another top official: Mikhail Kosobokov, commander of the 49th Combined Arms Army of Russia’s Southern Military District.

Regarding the correspondence with his wife, investigators found photos of severed human ears, which Demurchiev commented on by saying: “My mood has lifted.” His wife responded to the photo by asking what is done with the severed body parts afterward.

Roman Demurchiev: “I’ll collect enough for a garland and give it as a gift,” the General replied.

Oleksandra Demurchieva: “Like pig ears for beer?” she clarified.

Roman Demurchiev: “Yeah,” Demurchiev concluded.

Correspondence of the spouse

Demurchiev addresses “Grek” (The Greek), an officer of the FSB military counterintelligence:

“Yesterday in Novoprokopivka and Verbove [Zaporizhzhia region], they took a prisoner — some insolent ‘Ukrop">і ,’ about 30 years old, with a radio, apparently an assault group commander. Well, he was reluctant to talk, so the soldiers killed him, right in the trench.”

However, establishing the identity of the victims and what truly happened to them remains difficult due to a lack of sufficient information.

Throughout the correspondence, Demurchiev casually shares accounts of Ukrainian captives who are regularly tortured and killed. As of the publication of this report, Ukrainian law enforcement has not yet announced an official notice of suspicion against Demurchiev.

This case recalls last year’s sentencing of Olga Bykovska, a Russian woman from temporarily occupied Crimea. She was sentenced to prison in absentia for inciting her husband, soldier Oleg Bykovskyy, to rape Ukrainian women.

The continued exposure of such atrocities has deeply impacted public opinion in Ukraine. According to recent surveys, at least 45% of Ukrainians hold a “very negative” view of Russian citizens in general, while another 27% hold a “somewhat negative” view. A majority of respondents believe that the entire Russian population bears equal responsibility for initiating the war.