British Combatant in Ukraine Describes Russian Forces as Inhuman, Vows No Surrender

A foreign combatant in Ukraine mentioned to Business Insider that due to the notorious cruelty of Russian troops, his squad has sworn to avoid capture at all costs.

Macer Gifford, the assumed name of British ex-financier Harry Rowe, labeled Russian soldiers as 'extraordinarily hazardous and often fanatical individuals who would likely torture and kill any captives.'

Having previously volunteered in Syria, Gifford operated in critical Ukrainian regions like Kherson and Lyman.

He disclosed to the media the harsh truths of battling the Russian military and the stern choices faced by his team.

Delving into the Depths of Human Depravity

Reports indicate some Russian detainees faced abuse upon their capture by Ukrainians, although such treatment abated upon reaching formal detention facilities, according to a UN inquiry.

Conversely, the investigation highlighted 'systemic and widespread torture' across Russian POW internment locations, involving physical assault, electrocution, sexual violation, suffocation, sleep deprivation, and staged executions.

Instances of violence also surfaced; the BBC relayed the plight of Ukrainian soldier Oleksandr Matsievsky, who was coerced to dig a grave for himself before execution during captivity.

Gifford remarked, 'The depths of barbarity Russia has reached defy imagination.'

This prompted his unit to make a pact to avoid capture, which included dismissing a member who attempted surrender amidst combat. The mandate was clear: 'No one should be taken while alive.'

Tactics Inspired by the Islamic State

Gifford contends that Russia adopted brutal strategies from its engagement in Syria.

Since offering military assistance to Syria's President Bashar Assad in 2015, Vladimir Putin's forces have drawn from ISIS, implementing forceful airstrikes and arsenal.

Gifford sees parallels between Russian actions in Ukraine and ISIS's known terrorist methodologies.

Recollections of his Syrian experience revisited him — discovering incarceration devices and makeshift prisons ensnaring women by chains — in ISIS territories.

Initially perceiving ISIS as an extremist anomaly, Gifford now sees Russian forces adopting similarly extreme measures due to their efficacy in the Syrian conflict.

The Might of Russia's Military Apparatus

Describing Russia’s military as 'immense and perilous,' Gifford noted while the army's scale grows toward a 1.5 million troop target, its numbers have thinned in Ukraine.

Gifford spoke of Russia's focus on mass assaults—tolerating staggering losses—relying on sheer numbers.

He emphasized substantial differences in life valuation between the nations: Ukraine fights for its populace's survival, while Russia pursues territorial expansion.

Gifford urged Ukrainian allies to view the conflict beyond a peripheral skirmish on Europe’s border, noting Putin's perspective of a 'total war.'

Describing it as 'Vladimir Putin's ultimate conflict,' Gifford stressed its significance.

Russia consistently rebuffs any war crime charges, with its Ministry of Defence not addressing requests for statements.