Russian troops using opioids to cope with war stress, Ukraine Intel intercepts show
The Main Intelligence Directorate of Ukraine's Ministry of Defense published an intercepted conversation between Russian soldiers (Photo: Video screenshot / HUR)
Russian invasion forces are using opioid substances to alleviate severe psychological strain from combat, according to an intercepted phone conversation released by Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence (HUR) on Jan. 31.
In the recording, one Russian soldier asks: “You don’t happen to have any of that stuff in reserve, trimethylfentanyl, phenadone, dolophine? Just to somehow brighten up these combat days — it’s all just psychologically terrifying already.”
The military intelligence said constant fire from Ukrainian Defense Forces, massive casualties, arbitrary command decisions and zero prospects for improvement are driving soldiers to narcotics as the only way to “smooth over” their reality. Russian propaganda is no longer effective at maintaining morale.
The soldiers also discussed the possibility of synthesizing such substances in field conditions. One responded: “Unfortunately, unfortunately, we don’t have the reagents here. All we can do is poison ourselves with paracetamol, that’s it, brother.”
According to Ukrainian intelligence data, in the incomplete year of 2025, Russian forces recorded 112 deaths from narcotic poisonings — nearly matching the full-year total of 143 in 2024.
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