Reports have spread regarding cases of cannibalism—the consumption of another individual of one's own species, whether human or animal—within the Russian army due to food shortages. This was reported by The Sunday Times.
According to the information, some Russian military personnel participating in the invasion of Ukraine were forced to resort to cannibalism due to food shortages. The publication relies on materials provided by Ukrainian military intelligence, including photographs and about ten audio recordings between Russian officers. The information also mentions at least five cases of consuming their own colleagues.
It is noted that one of the cases occurred in November 2025 in the Mirnograd area of the Donetsk region. According to the evidence provided, an infantryman with the call sign “Choʻloq” (Lame), who served in the 51st Regiment of the 95th Separate Guards Motorized Rifle Brigade, killed two colleagues and attempted to eat the leg of one of them.
An unidentified officer reported this via Telegram to Vladislav Razikov, the deputy commander of the brigade's reconnaissance battalion. He also provided images as evidence, including a photograph of a severed leg.
It is said that these images were analyzed using special programs. According to an independent military surgeon who reviewed the photo, the injuries may have been caused not by combat, but by cutting with a sharp object.
In the available audio messages, the officer stated that the soldier who tried to eat human flesh was found in a basement. He noted that the soldier opened fire while they were attempting to capture him and was destroyed on the spot.
Furthermore, the officer said that the military personnel under his command were suffering from hunger and severe exhaustion. Other recorded conversations also mention cases of cannibalism. In particular, in April of last year, a soldier with the call sign “Most” complained to his commander about a colleague who had consumed human flesh.
Also, in October 2025, it was reported that the commander of the 1437th Motorized Rifle Regiment accused a subordinate in a similar situation and demanded that he stop “eating human meat.”
Another report says that the head of the 55th Motorized Rifle Brigade issued an order strictly prohibiting cannibalism along with alcohol and drugs.
The Ukrainian side also stated that captured Russian soldiers are complaining about the lack of food. Additionally, Bradley Martin, a former captain in the US Navy, noted that information about supply problems in the Russian army could be reliable, noting that supplying troops is not a priority for the Russian command.
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