04.01.2026
In the temporarily occupied part of the Kherson region, new methods of “motivation” have been recorded, which Russian commanders are applying to personnel. To force the occupiers to go on an assault, they are sent to “pits”, where they are kept in mud, not allowed to sleep.
They are returning the “fighting spirit” to the invaders, also by taking away their payments and the status of a participant in the hostilities. This was reported by the military movement of Ukrainians and Crimean Tatars “Atesh”, referring to agents in one of the Russian units in the Kherson direction.
What is known
Against the backdrop of the occupiers’ increasing reluctance to launch an attack with little chance of returning alive, Russian commanders are inventing new ways to force personnel to follow orders. In the Kherson direction , “re-education” in the so-called “pits” and deprivation of payments are being used.
“Agents of “Atesh” from the 205th Motorized Rifle Brigade (Russian Armed Forces. – Ed.) are recording a systematic pattern of pressure from commanders. They deprive soldiers of payments and the status of participants in hostilities under the article “Desertion”, as well as bonuses – for refusing to go on knowingly destructive assaults. Fighters who do not agree to go on attacks are forcibly sent to “pits” – improvised punishment cells in the open air. There they are kept without communication, without the right to sleep and without access to medical care,” the movement said.
The “chance” to get out of the “pit” is given to punished servicemen who refuse to serve before each new attack.
“Before each next throw, the soldiers are told: ‘If you don’t want to, write a report and forget about the money.’ Those who don’t obey have their bank cards confiscated, payments through the financial unit blocked, and are transferred to the status of ‘no tasks completed.’ After that, the majority agree to go on the attack,” Atesh said.
The effectiveness of this approach seems to satisfy Russian commanders. This is evidenced by the increase in the number of improvised punishment cells. Thus, in one of the areas where the occupiers are located, their number has almost doubled recently.
“The price of refusal is a day in the mud under guard, and then an assault without the right to choose. The command calls it “motivation”. Inside the units, they no longer believe in promises or orders. People dream of only one thing – to survive and get out of there at any cost,” Atesh summarized.
Earlier, OBOZ.UA wrote that Atesh agents burned down a communications tower near the Tolmachevo airbase in Novosibirsk. Another successful sabotage in the enemy’s deep rear became known on the last day of 2025.
It was also reported that partisans sabotaged the railway in Voronezh. They managed to destroy a diesel locomotive that was transporting military cargo to the Kupyansk direction.