In Russia, Investigation Demanded into Mass Disappearances of Soldiers in Lugansk Unit

Over 100 relatives of Russian servicemen have approached the Russian Defense Minister Andrey Belousov, demanding punishment for the command of the Lugansk military unit 40463, where, according to their accounts, soldiers are disappearing in significant numbers, reports NewsBox.

Relatives of soldiers who have died or gone missing in action from unit 40463 of the 123rd "LNR" brigade have submitted a petition to the Russian Defense Minister Andrey Belousov. They are calling for the removal of brigade commander Roman Shkrobi (nicknamed "Kastan") and the head of the 1st motorized rifle battalion Alexey Korchagin (nicknamed "Kepa"), previously linked to the torture of subordinates.

The appeal claims that in this military unit, service members are vanishing on a large scale, and some are subjected to cruel mistreatment. Families of the missing are demanding an urgent investigation, evacuation of the military personnel, and a review of decisions on unlawful transfers and demotions. They are also insisting on a face-to-face meeting with the command to clarify the fate of their relatives.

According to activists, the petition has received more than 160 signatures, primarily from relatives of soldiers who served in this unit. They state that they have repeatedly reached out to the Ministry of Defense and the Investigative Committee but have not received any responses.

Previously, journalists reported cases where relatives of soldiers found evidence of torture such as audio recordings of beatings and accounts of harsh treatment. In one instance, the wife of a deceased soldier found unsent messages on his phone, in which he mentioned the use of electric shocks. According to journalists, command "buried" a soldier four days before his actual death, when he was still alive and pleading for evacuation.