"Here Is Hell... So Scary" Audio Recording of Russian Soldiers' Phone Calls Released

AP News Releases Transcript of Russian Military Phone Call

One year after the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine war, recordings of Russian soldiers have been released.

On the 23rd (local time), the Associated Press (AP) obtained and published transcripts of phone calls made by Russian troops in Ukraine to their families or close acquaintances. These transcripts are part of about 2,000 intercepted calls that Ukraine eavesdropped on from Russian forces. Ukraine is providing information by intercepting Russian soldiers' calls through its own base stations.

A Ukrainian soldier stands in front of the destroyed Antonovsky Bridge in Kherson, southern Ukraine. [Image source=AP Yonhap News]

The AP stated, "The approximately 2,000 transcripts offer a harrowing new perspective on the war," adding, "Violence that was once unimaginable has become routine."

The media introduced conversations from three Russian soldiers, saying, "They show how individuals who once had a sense of right and wrong have become involved in horrific violence against others."

According to the transcripts, Russian soldier A told his wife during a call, "Everyone here drinks alcohol," and "If I return home, I will explain why we drink." He continued, "I have never seen a hell like this before, and I am shocked."

A Ukrainian soldier is inspecting a heavy machine gun on the front line in Mykolaiv, southern Ukraine. [Image source=AFP Yonhap News]

Soldier B, who enlisted to pay off debts, told his mother, "We destroyed four tanks," and "There were burning bodies around, but we won." He added, "The dead (Ukrainian) soldiers looked about 18 or 19 years old," expressing, "They are no different from me."

However, as the war dragged on, B appeared to become accustomed to looting. He told his mother, "Tens or hundreds of houses are all empty," and "We go inside and take everything?food, blankets, pillows, forks, spoons, pots, everything."

B also reported that some soldiers self-harmed to obtain medical leave. He said, "There are people who self-injure," explaining, "They shoot themselves below the left thigh to claim insurance money." B was seriously wounded in May last year and returned to Russia.

Soldier C, who dreamed of becoming a soldier, called his girlfriend and said, "This place is driving me crazy," and "We are at the front line, and it is very scary."

However, as the situation worsened with Russian forces being pushed back by Ukrainian troops in some areas, C expressed anger. In a call with his mother, he said, "It seems we will be here for a while," and "We will stay until we 'clean' all of Ukraine." It was later reported that C died in the war in July last year.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a large-scale speech on the 24th, "Despite ongoing large-scale missile attacks and ceasefires, victory is visible even in the darkness." He added, "Ukraine has not given up on you and has not forgotten," and "We will liberate all territories one way or another."