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.
Why does this publication seem to be anti Ukraine all the time?
But the article isn’t anti-ukraine. It’s about a Brazilian soldier in a Brazilian unit led by a Brazilian.
It isn’t. They’re journalists, not propagandists. Holding their government accountable and reporting on what’s happening – good or bad – is just the job.
If it weren’t for the lack of em-dashes in this comment I’d say it was written by an AI
Who me?
