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What is a servicemember’s life worth? Russia versus the US

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by Oleksandr Sukhobrus, opinion contributor - 04/11/26 2:00 PM ET

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by Oleksandr Sukhobrus, opinion contributor - 04/11/26 2:00 PM ET

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Thanks to the internet, the entire world was able to follow the rescue of an American pilot and a weapons operation officer in Iran. The rescue was also followed closely in Russia — everything related to the U.S. and Israeli military operation in Iran is the subject of close attention from all of Russian society — primarily the military, their families, journalists, bloggers, and propagandists.

Before the eyes of astonished Russian citizens, the U.S. launched a large-scale, multi-level, and very expensive operation to rescue two airmen stranded in Iran. The rescue operation for the pilot involved a significant number of special operations forces and dozens of military aircraft and helicopters.

The CIA even conducted a deliberate disinformation campaign, spreading information within Iran that the U.S. military had already found the weapons operator.

The pilot was rescued almost immediately, but the rescue of the weapons officer came at the cost of several aircraft and helicopters. Despite the loss of combat aircraft, the operation is considered a success in the U.S. and a source of pride for its military.

This attitude of the U.S. military command toward subordinates who find themselves in dangerous situations is radically different from the attitude of Russian commanders toward their subordinates. In the Russian army, it is a common practice for military commanders to torture and kill their own subordinates for desertion, refusal to obey orders, or refusal to go on suicide “meat assaults.”

In some cases, Russian servicemen are tortured and executed for refusing to pay their commanders or give up their bank card codes. Russian commanders are not held to account for such actions. And they are not isolated incidents, but rather a common practice in the Russian army, even supported by senior command as a means of instilling discipline and fulfilling the commanders’ orders.

The inhumane treatment of Russian military personnel is no secret to anyone in Russia. Soldiers and their family members know it best of all. In fact, torture and execution of military personnel at the behest of their superiors is one of the foundations of the Russian army.

This is why Russian society watched with amazement the elaborate and expensive operation to rescue a single American pilot.

Russian servicemembers, family members and relatives of service members killed by their commanders can draw their own conclusions, privately or among close friends. But they dare not publicly express opinions that do not coincide with the government’s official propaganda about the conflict in Ukraine.

Oleksandr Sukhobrus is a Ukrainian citizen, a licensed lawyer, psychologist and former diplomat based in Vilnius, Lithuania.

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