Russian soldiers stationed in southern Ukraine are increasingly vanishing without explanation, fuelling rumours of growing partisan activity and plunging morale among the occupying forces. According to Serhii Bratchuk, spokesperson for the Ukrainian Volunteer Army, the unexplained disappearances are occurring not just on the frontlines but also deep within rear positions controlled by the Russian military in the occupied part of Kherson region.
Ukrainian forces successfully liberated the right bank of Kherson, including the regional capital, in the autumn of 2022. However, the left bank of the region, across the Dnipro River, remains under the control of Russian occupation forces. It is here, in these occupied zones, that a strange pattern has emerged — Russian soldiers are simply disappearing without a trace.
Bratchuk referred to the phenomenon with dark irony as the “Kherson Triangle”, suggesting that Russian soldiers are being “picked off” daily. “This is no longer the Bermuda Triangle, but the Kherson Triangle. And as we can see, it works. Every day this past week, someone disappears,” he said, noting the mounting confusion and fear among Russian troops.
The most recent case involved six missing soldiers from Russia’s 24th Motor Rifle Regiment. There were no known Ukrainian attacks or reported firefights in the area at the time of their disappearance, sparking speculation that Ukrainian partisan groups could be operating in the shadows or that demoralised Russian troops are deserting.
One such group, the pro-Ukrainian partisan movement Atesh, has taken responsibility for some of these disappearances. In a statement, they revealed that several Russian National Guard soldiers had mysteriously vanished in the Russian-occupied city of Nova Kakhovka, Kherson Oblast. These troops had reportedly been involved in systematic looting of local residents.
Atesh reports that occupying Russian soldiers have been using checkpoints across Nova Kakhovka to rob civilians of food, electronics, mobile phones and household items. According to the group, many Russian soldiers feel immune from accountability due to the Kremlin’s protection. However, recent events suggest that impunity may be an illusion.
“Their disappearance has raised concerns among the entire Russian leadership in Nova Kakhovka. And this is just the beginning,” Atesh declared.
Russian forces have used Nova Kakhovka as a logistics base since the start of the full scale invasion on 24 February 2022. While the city remains occupied, the Ukrainian Armed Forces have tightened operations in the region, and partisan activity is believed to be increasing.
