The BND intercepts suggest that these were neither random acts nor the actions of individual soldiers who got out of hand. Rather, the material reportedly suggests that the soldiers were talking about the atrocities as if they were talking about their everyday lives.
These BND findings indicate that killings of civilians have become part of the Russian military's usual actions, according to Berlin sources, possibly part of a clear strategy [to] spread fear and terror among the civilian population and to stifle resistance. @derspiegel
The material is also said to show that members of Russian mercenary troops such as "Wagner Group" were significantly involved in the atrocities. The latter had already attracted attention for their particular cruelty during their deployment in Syria.
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