Former Russian Soldier Alleges Commander Committed Sexual Crimes Against Ukrainian Civilians

Former Russian soldier Danylo Tulenkov has alleged that his former commander committed sexual crimes against Ukrainian civilians in the occupied city of Berdiansk.

Tulenkov made the allegations in a post on his Telegram channel.

He said that in March 2024, he personally watched a video filmed by his first company commander, known by the nickname ‘Lex,’ whom he described as a ‘social racist.’

According to Tulenkov, Lex and several of his subordinates forced their way into a private home in occupied Berdiansk, where they tortured a local family.

Two Russian invaders raped the couple. Lex watched the scene unfold while smoking a cigarette. The children were held nearby, screaming and crying; they were forced to watch their parents being abused.

Tulenkov claims that Russian security services arrested the commander, who was later convicted of organizing a criminal organization, rape, murder, robbery, arms trafficking, and attacks on military personnel. The commander, known by the nickname ‘Lex,’ was sentenced to life imprisonment.

Tulenkov himself fought against Ukraine for six months as a member of the Storm Z unit before becoming a prominent pro-war ‘Z-blogger.’ He also wrote a book in which he justifies war crimes and openly calls for the killing of Ukrainians.

Other Russian war crimes

Last month, Russian lawmaker and General Andrey Gurulyov admitted that he commanded Russian forces in the Donbas in 2014 and ordered artillery strikes that shelled Ukrainian civilians.

According to his own statement, he ordered artillery fire on civilian residential areas, including a neighborhood with a church where civilians had taken shelter.

As a result of the shelling, a woman and a child were killed, and the church was damaged.

In June 2026, Ukrainian military intelligence reported that Russian forces had been ordered to intensify FPV drone strikes on the city of Zaporizhzhia.

The order to increase strikes deep behind the front line was issued to units of the Russian Armed Forces’ 58th Guards Combined Arms Army.