'He just wanted to go home' — Brazilian recruit’s death in Ukraine points to abuse, torture in foreign fighter unit
'He just wanted to go home' — Brazilian recruit’s death in Ukraine points to abuse, torture in foreign fighter unit
'He just wanted to go home' — Brazilian recruit’s death in Ukraine points to abuse, torture in foreign fighter unit
A 28-year-old Brazilian recruit died after a brutal punishment handed out in a unit that regularly used discipline practices described as "torture" by those who both witnessed and suffered them, a Kyiv Independent investigation can reveal.
The man, Bruno Gabriel Leal da Silva, died overnight Dec. 28-29, 2025, according to former fellow fighters who spoke to the Kyiv Independent on condition of anonymity because they feared retaliation.
The unit in question is a Brazilian-led formation called Advanced Company, led by the Brazilian Leanderson Paulino who is accused by several of those serving under him of overseeing — and in some cases taking part in — the abuse of his subordinates.