1/ A Russian army captain whose commander ordered him to be tied to a tree so that the Ukrainians would kill him says that he is now being sent to his death on the front line. He accuses his senior officers of stealing volunteer aid sent to the 24th Motorised Rifle Regiment. ⬇️
VIDEO
2/ Captain Andrei Stanislavovich Elisenko has recorded a testimonial video in which he describes how he fell out with his commander over corruption and lack of equipment. Such videos are fairly common for rank and file soldiers, but quite rare for officers.
VIDEO
3/ Elisenko says he was mobilised in October 2022, before being transferred to the 24th Motorised Rifle Regiment in June 2023 as a commander of an anti-aircraft missile battery under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Anatoly Kazantsev.
4/ According to Elisenko, his commanders "did not listen to my recommendations on the need to equip all units with electronic warfare equipment to combat unmanned aircraft," and did not have any vehicles until August 2023. They turned instead to volunteer aid to equip the unit
5/ "The enemy's unmanned aircraft dominated the sky," but as his unit had undergone training and had good equipment, they initially "fought the enemy quite successfully." This did not last for long.
6/ The equipment they had been given became out of date within only two months due to Ukrainian adaptation. Elisenko appealed for assistance from the army but received nothing. Soldiers turned to volunteer aid to provide electronic warfare systems.
7/ By February 2024, "big problems began in our units. And I directly, since I was the commander of the anti-aircraft battery, was accused of the fact that the enemy is superior to us in the sky."
8/ "I was accused by the same regiment commander, who did not listen to our recommendations.
At the stage of forming a unit of motor vehicles at the end of January, we received another batch of motor vehicles, this time specifically for my unit. Seven vehicles.
At the stage of forming a unit of motor vehicles at the end of January, we received another batch of motor vehicles, this time specifically for my unit. Seven vehicles.
9/ "But in the process, all this equipment, by order of the unit commander, was transferred to other units. And the battery was again left without equipment.
10/ "I reported to numerous inspections that we had problems with electronic warfare, thermal imagers, and equipment, and at the end of February I reported to the inspection of the group and the 18th Army. But there were no results, only threats [from commanders].
11/ "In March, I was ordered to organise a reliable air defence system in the village of Oleshky. But due to the fact that we were catastrophically short of personnel, I was unable to implement this. I reported this to the unit commander, Kazantsev.
12/ "But, despite my request to staff the units at least to the regular strength and to help with thermal imagers and other weapons, he only threatened me." Elisenko says that equipment provided to his unit by volunteers was stolen by his commanders.
13/ On 5 April 2024, Kazantsev ordered Elisenko to be tied to a tree during a Ukrainian bombardment. Elisenko had the foresight to instruct one of his subordinates to record the punishment, which is shown in the video at the top of this thead.
14/ "Shells were flying, and strikes were being made directly at this clearing, at the neighbouring position ... And the video clearly shows the burnt trees, hit by shrapnel. That is, this site was repeatedly struck by the enemy with both artillery and unmanned aircraft."
15/ Elisenko got in touch with his wife, presumably through a subordinate, who was able to contact the senior leadership of the Dnipro group of forces and the senior political officer. After he had spent four hours tied to the tree, an order came through for him to be released.
16/ Kazantsev summoned Elisenko to his dugout. "For 20 minutes he insulted me that my wife has connections and leads the regiment from Moscow, and the entire group. After which he removed me from my position by verbal order and appointed my deputy."
17/ Elisenko was made the commander of a stormtrooper platoon – a much lower position – despite not having received any demotions or written reprimands. He recorded a video protesting about this and the new orders were cancelled.
18/ He complained to the military investigation department and the military prosecutor's office of the Southern District about the illegal treatment he had suffered, but his compaint was dismissed on the grounds that he had not suffered any injury while tied to a tree.
19/ Elisenko says that he "met with the deputy commander of the army, who promised that, due to the fact that I have a conflict of interest with the unit commander Kazantsev, I will not return to this regiment anymore, and in August I handed over my affairs and positions."
20/ However, in January 2025 he was again sent to serve in the 24th Motorised Rifle Regiment under Kazantsev's command. Now, he says, he is being sent to the most dangerous part of the front line so that the Ukrainians will kill him.
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