“It Seems Putin Hates Not Just Ukrainians, But Russians Too” — Fedorenko On Russia’s Front-Line Losses

18.10.2026, 17:29 uatv.ua

Russian command continues sending infantry forward in offensives, despite significant personnel losses. In certain sections of the front, according to Ukrainian soldiers, hundreds of bodies of dead Russian soldiers remain, yet the Russian army doesn’t stop its attempts to advance. Yurii Fedorenko, commander of the 429th Separate Unmanned Systems Brigade “Achilles,” shared this, UATV English reports.

According to the soldier, Russian units continue attacking Ukrainian positions even in places where previous attack attempts resulted in heavy losses. He sharply criticized the Russian command’s attitude toward its own servicemembers.

“Only someone who hates their own people could use personnel so thoughtlessly. Sometimes I get the impression that Putin doesn’t just hate Ukrainians, but hates Russians themselves too,” Fedorenko stated.

The brigade commander noted that Ukrainian defenders observe the consequences of such attacks using drones. Information about the situation at the front is also confirmed by servicemembers of infantry units.

“There are sections where 300-400 occupiers are lying in the fields. And they still keep heading in the same direction,” the soldier emphasized.

In Fedorenko’s view, such actions reflect the Russian leadership’s contemptuous attitude toward the lives of its own soldiers. Despite significant losses, Russian command continues directing personnel to the same sections of the front.

“To kill your own soldiers so thoughtlessly on the line of contact… There are places where everything is strewn with the bodies of the dead,” the brigade commander noted.

The soldier separately commented on the behavior of Russian soldiers taken prisoner. Based on his observations, most of them lay down their weapons only when they find themselves in a hopeless situation.

“99% of Russian soldiers are taken prisoner when they’re cornered. That’s when they surrender. As long as they can shoot and kill Ukrainians, they’re not in much of a hurry to surrender,” Fedorenko said.

He also noted that information from Russian POWs is consistent with data from Ukrainian aerial reconnaissance and reports from infantry units.

“They confirm what we see from the drones, what we actually see and hear from our infantry units,” the soldier explained.

Despite significant losses, the Russian army, according to the commander, continues using human resources to sustain its offensive actions.

At the same time, Fedorenko is convinced that, with proper support from international partners and Ukrainian society, the Defense Forces will be able to continue holding back the enemy and achieving tactical successes.

“With the support of our partners, and above all the Ukrainian people, the front will hold firmly and stably enough. Not just preventing the enemy from advancing, but also achieving tactical success,” the soldier summarized.

It was previously reported that military expert Pavlo Lakiichuk named two ways to undermine the Russian army’s combat capability. In his assessment, strikes on Russian military logistics could significantly affect the occupation forces’ ability to continue offensive operations.

Read also: Zelenskyy States Ukraine Will Resume Strikes On Russian Oil Refineries