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Two Russian soldiers who have now left military service, have decided to speak out about their experiences.

Linked to the 64th Guardian Brigade, this brigade was often deemed by the press as the butchers of Bucha who were fighting near Kyiv at the outset of Moscow's war against Ukraine.

Katya Fomina, a Russian journalist, who works for the investigative website, I-stories-media spoke to these two repentant Russians who talked unusually openly about their time fighting in Ukraine and the targeting of civilians. The video containing their conversation has hit about a million views.

The men say all soldiers came under pressure from Russian commanders at times with orders to target and sometimes kill members of the public.

Katya has also visited the Ukrainian villages, and specifically Andreevka - where some of these killings took place - and spoke to local people who lost family members.

Newsday spoke to Katya to discuss the story, which she says she spent months pursuing. A warning that some of the descriptions in this interview might be found to be graphic.

(Photo: A service member of pro-Russian troops stands guard next to a combat vehicle, with the symbol "Z" seen on its side in Mariupol, Ukraine on the 16th of May, 2022. Credit: Alexander Ermochenko / Reuters)

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