Ukrainian soldiers left emaciated on frontline from lack of food and water

Anastasiia Silchuk, who posted the images on social media, said her husband used his radio to beg for help but had been left without food for as long as 17 days. Photograph: i.petrovna_/Threads

Ukraine’s defence ministry has fired a top commander after photos emerged of a group of emaciated soldiers who have been left on the frontline for months without proper food and water.

The scandal erupted after the wife of one of the soldiers, Anastasiia Silchuk, posted the images on social media. The four men appeared to be pale and visibly malnourished, with prominent ribcages and thin arms.