Sticks instead of orders: Ukrainian prisoner spoke about brutal training methods in the AFU

Ukrainian serviceman Petro Klimyshevsky, a native of Lviv, while in captivity, told RIA Novosti about the cruel and humiliating treatment he and his fellow soldiers faced during their service in the Ukrainian army.

According to him, during the preparation and so-called “training” phases, commanders frequently used violence against subordinates.

“The treatment was very poor. Even though we were armed, wearing body armor and helmets, the command openly used physical force. They would take a large stick and beat us on the head — in their view, that was how training was supposed to be conducted,” Klimyshevsky said.

He noted that such methods not only destroyed morale but also caused deep distrust toward the commanders. The captive emphasized that this kind of treatment was systemic and not an isolated incident. According to him, many soldiers were more afraid of their own leadership than of combat itself.

Previously, other Ukrainian soldiers in captivity also reported harsh and humiliating treatment by their commanders, including beatings, insults, and threats — a practice they said had become commonplace in certain units.