Russian Soldiers Ordered to Disguise as Civilians Near Orikhiv

(ORIKHIV DIRECTION, ZAPORIZHZHIA OBLAST) – Russian airborne units are disguising themselves in civilian clothing to conduct sabotage operations on the Orikhiv front, in a flagrant breach of international humanitarian law, according to an intercepted radio communication released by Ukraine’s Defence Intelligence.

The audio intercept captures servicemen from the 7th Guards Airborne Assault Division of the Russian armed forces receiving instructions to exploit civilian attire for tactical movement. A voice on the recording states, “You can move out, you are in civilian clothes, just listen to the sky, listen to the sky.” The exchange reveals a calculated attempt to evade detection by Ukrainian drone surveillance and reconnaissance assets.

Defence Intelligence of Ukraine, also known as HUR, published the recording on 30 April 2026, noting that the use of civilian clothing for combatant concealment constitutes a war crime under the laws of armed conflict. The practice creates additional and severe risks for the genuine civilian population still living in combat zones, as it blurs the distinction between legitimate military targets and protected persons.

A preceding portion of the intercept captures a Russian soldier inquiring about a comrade. The response is blunt and laced with battlefield fatalism. “Yes, who the hell knows. Something is somewhere, but it is unclear where,” one occupant replies before issuing the order to advance disguised. The tone suggests both the chaos of the front line and a routine acceptance of tactics explicitly prohibited by the Geneva Conventions.

The 7th Guards Airborne Assault Division has been active on the Orikhiv axis in Zaporizhzhia Oblast, an area where Ukrainian defences have held firm against repeated Russian attempts to advance. Resorting to perfidious tactics, military analysts note, reflects operational frustration and an inability to achieve territorial gains through conventional means.

HUR used the release of the intercept to reiterate its standing offer to Russian military personnel who wish to avoid participating in war crimes. “Every Russian serviceman who does not wish to take part in war crimes has a chance to save his life by contacting the safe Telegram bot of the ‘I Want to Live’ project,” the agency stated. The project, which provides a secure surrender mechanism for Russian soldiers, remains operational.