A former senior Russian intelligence officer has come forward with harrowing firsthand accounts of alleged war crimes committed by Kremlin forces in Ukraine, including the systematic abduction of children. Igor Salikov, who held the rank of Major in the GRU military intelligence agency, claims he personally witnessed Russian security service (FSB) officers detaining children in 2022. His testimony, supported by evidence provided to the International Criminal Court (ICC), also includes disturbing allegations of rape and other atrocities perpetrated by Russian soldiers.
Following his testimony and defection, Salikov, who also served with the Wagner mercenary group during his career, was granted asylum in a Western European nation.
Witnessing the Kidnapping of Ukrainian Children
The 62-year-old veteran recounted witnessing the forced removal of children from Ukraine on multiple occasions. In the Bucha region, Salikov stated he saw children being transported north towards Belarus, a country heavily involved in the logistical support of the invasion. He expressed his strong suspicion that these children were subsequently moved to Russia.
During one specific incident, Salikov described his unit being on a clandestine reconnaissance mission. "We were hidden, nobody knew that we were there. We were observing the road and we saw FSB cars taking children somewhere," he recalled.
Initially, Salikov admitted he didn't have time to process the implications, assuming the children were being evacuated for their safety. He reflected, “You can only start thinking about bigger things when nobody’s shelling you, perhaps when you lie down at night.” However, he later came to understand that the FSB's actions in relocating these children made no logical sense for a simple evacuation.
"It is completely inhumane," Salikov stated, adding, "Now we know where those children were transported, how the Russian government essentially tried to reformat their brains, and know about the mothers of those Ukrainian children trying to reunite with them. Without a doubt, it is a crime.”
Since the full-scale invasion commenced in 2022, extensive investigations have exposed Russian operations involving the deportation of thousands of women and children from occupied Ukrainian territories. These operations are believed to include efforts to indoctrinate and re-educate the abducted children. According to Ukrainian authorities, approximately 20,000 children have been forcibly taken from their families and held in Russia, Belarus, or Russian-occupied territories. A United Nations commission has confirmed the movement of 1,200 children, characterizing these actions as "crimes against humanity."
Accounts of Russian Soldiers Victimizing Ukrainian Women
Salikov also shared a disturbing personal experience while visiting a property in Ukraine to collect drinking water from a well. He encountered three sisters residing there. When one of the sisters inquired about food, Salikov promised to bring some from his unit the following day.
Upon his return, Salikov discovered that the area had been occupied by pro-Russian Chechen fighters. He witnessed one of the sisters engaged in sexual activity with them. Salikov believes this situation was either a case of rape or a desperate arrangement made by the woman out of extreme hunger. "because she was hungry and she just needed food," he explained.
In another instance, Salikov learned of a civilian couple who were arrested. During an official military briefing concerning the conduct of various units, it was revealed that the husband was killed when he attempted to protect his wife. The wife was subsequently raped. Ukrainian officials report that hundreds of women and girls have come forward with allegations of sexual violence by Russian soldiers since 2022. The Kremlin, however, maintains that most of these claims are unsubstantiated.
The Breaking Point: Reasons for Defection
Salikov's decision to defect was solidified when Russian forces began executing Ukrainian civilians who were allegedly accused of being saboteurs and had been taken prisoner. He recounted a situation where a superior officer sought to demonstrate initiative by handling the prisoners. This officer tasked Salikov with dealing with the captives, but Salikov refused. He had heard reports that some of these prisoners were being executed.
"Counterintelligence officers took several people from us. They told [us] to shoot the rest. I ordered my subordinate to send these people home – to free them," Salikov stated. The United Nations reported last year that at least 170 civilians have been executed in Russian-controlled areas of Ukraine, with many former prisoners detailing experiences of torture.
Salikov's refusal to follow orders led to significant repercussions. He faced a "huge conflict" with his battalion commanders, who reportedly intended to court-martial and execute him. "That was the final point when I decided to get the unit out and ultimately to defect," he explained.
Salikov expressed his belief that his fellow officers were planning to stage his death to appear as though Ukrainian special forces were responsible. He alleged that assassins were waiting to ambush his vehicle, but his radio operator intercepted communications about the planned attack. His unit then altered their travel plans, taking a different route in a separate vehicle, and fortunately, they were not recognized.
Salikov, who has authored two books detailing his military experiences, "Russia’s Wagner Group" and "Putin’s ‘Viper’ Detachment," maintains that he did not personally harm any civilians.
Following Salikov's defection in 2023, Ukraine's Chief Prosecutor for War Crimes, Yurii Bielousov, confirmed that his team had verified some of Salikov's "important testimony" regarding atrocities he had witnessed or was aware of. The ICC issued arrest warrants in 2023 for Vladimir Putin and Maria Lvova-Belova, Russia's Commissioner for Children’s Rights, in connection with suspected war crimes. Russia has denied these allegations, asserting that the court's actions hold "no significance whatsoever." The Kremlin consistently claims it does not target civilians. According to UN data, last year was the deadliest for civilians in the conflict, with over 2,500 fatalities, 97 percent of which were attributed to Russian actions in Ukrainian-controlled territories.
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