[68007] Reports of mass deaths from alcohol consumption among Russian occupation forces in the Zaporizhzhia sector

Reports of the deaths of dozens of Russian soldiers from alcohol poisoning on the battlefield

According to reports circulated on May 20, 2026, the Military Intelligence of Ukraine (HUR) intercepted conversations of Russian soldiers indicating a mass poisoning incident among personnel of the 166th Motorized Rifle Battalion in the Orikhiv sector of the Zaporizhzhia region. Ukrainian intelligence forces state that this involves deaths resulting from the consumption of low-quality alcohol.

In a report published on Цензор.НЕТ (a media outlet supporting the Ukrainian narrative), Russian soldiers are quoted testifying to the discovery of numerous bodies at military positions. Official sources in Ukraine, as reported on Україна Сьогодні, claim that the bodies were left in the field and not evacuated for five to seven days. In the intercepted conversations, the speakers describe a grim scene: "Там 8 или 10 тел лежали", detailing that the bodies of the Russian soldiers and their allies were piled up and covered with sleeping bags.

Additional news channels confirmed the details, including Новини: Україна and Times of Ukraine, which highlight the logistical failures in evacuating the dead. UA Stream added that this involved the use of poisoned alcohol that led to what was defined as a "mass suicide" of about ten combatants in the sector.

All sources cited here are identified with the Ukrainian narrative, which highlights the moral and operational failures within the Russian army. As of now, there is no official response from Moscow on this matter, as the sources rely exclusively on Ukrainian intelligence and intercepted conversations.