WSJ Review
Oct 22, 2026 · 1 hr · 13 segments
A reading of articles and features from the Review section of the Weekend Wall Street Journal
Oct 22, 2026 · 1 hr · 13 segments
A reading of articles and features from the Review section of the Weekend Wall Street Journal
Lieutenant Lev Stupnikov pulled his truck up to the edge of the field in Eastern Ukraine on a frigid February morning, followed by a convoy of senior Russian army officials coming to observe a training exercise near the front line.
For several consecutive days, Russian infantrymen, medics, and officers had been drilling on the frozen mud preparing for an offensive on the nearby city of Volodar.
The only cover was a line of bare trees.
Stupnikov approached a group of waiting soldiers and snapped a photo, keeping his cell phone close to his chest to avoid drawing attention.
Then he quickly tapped out a message on his phone.
There must be between 120 and 150 men here.
Stupnikov, a recent graduate from a prestigious military academy in St. Petersburg, Russia, had a secret.
Earlier that month, he had begun covertly sharing information with Ukrainian intelligence.
Now, with scores of Russian soldiers and their commanding officer gathered there, Snubnikov would have only moments to move out of the line of fire.
And then he said, I'm waiting for the message that you've left.
Having received no answer, the contact sent a note in all caps a minute later.
L-E-A-V-E, LEAVE.
was already on the move, sliding up to a group of drivers smoking besides idling vehicles.
Fanning a grimace and clutching a stomach, he asked them for a pack of wet wipes.
Then he disappeared into the nearby stand of trees and stooped down.
pretending to relieve himself.
He was knocked to the ground by an explosion that sent shrapnel careening into a nearby truck.
When he got to his feet, Stupnikov was stunned by the gruesome sight.
Dozens of mutilated bodies lay strewn across the field.
Victims groaned in their death throes.
Others were motionless over pools of blood on the black earth beneath them.
His phone buzzed.
Lieutenant Lev Stupnikov pulled his truck up to the edge of the field in Eastern Ukraine on a frigid February morning, followed by a convoy of senior Russian army officials coming to observe a training exercise near the front line.
For several consecutive days, Russian infantrymen, medics, and officers had been drilling on the frozen mud preparing for an offensive on the nearby city of Volodar.
The only cover was a line of bare trees.
Stupnikov approached a group of waiting soldiers and snapped a photo, keeping his cell phone close to his chest to avoid drawing attention.
Then he quickly tapped out a message on his phone.
There must be between 120 and 150 men here.
Stupnikov, a recent graduate from a prestigious military academy in St. Petersburg, Russia, had a secret.
Earlier that month, he had begun covertly sharing information with Ukrainian intelligence.
Now, with scores of Russian soldiers and their commanding officer gathered there, Snubnikov would have only moments to move out of the line of fire.
And then he said, I'm waiting for the message that you've left.
Having received no answer, the contact sent a note in all caps a minute later.
L-E-A-V-E, LEAVE.
was already on the move, sliding up to a group of drivers smoking besides idling vehicles.
Fanning a grimace and clutching a stomach, he asked them for a pack of wet wipes.
Then he disappeared into the nearby stand of trees and stooped down.
pretending to relieve himself.
He was knocked to the ground by an explosion that sent shrapnel careening into a nearby truck.
When he got to his feet, Stupnikov was stunned by the gruesome sight.
Dozens of mutilated bodies lay strewn across the field.
Victims groaned in their death throes.
Others were motionless over pools of blood on the black earth beneath them.
His phone buzzed.
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