This video has been making the rounds lately. It supposedly shows a Russian soldier beheading a Ukrainian soldier. Although I believe that it is really a video of a Wagner mercenary beheading a Ukrainian border guard.
#1. The executioner is wearing Multicam and has white tape around his right knee. This is typically associated with the Wagner PMC Group. A Russian soldier would most likely be wearing Ratnik camouflage.
Russian forces typically wear white, red, or Ribbon of Saint George Orange and Black tape:
This Russian soldier has White tape and Ribbon of St. George tape:
#2. The Ukrainian soldier is wearing olive green.
I believe he may be a border guard since his uniform is similar to the one below:
Most Ukrainian soldiers wear a sort of pixilated ACU style uniform.
#3. The mercenary is wearing deltoid protection. I have not seen that before on either side. This, along with the weather, lead me to believe that this may have been taken over the summer.
#4. The border guard is wearing a yellow armband on his right arm. This is traditionally worn by Ukrainian forces.
#5. The Ukrainian border guard’s armor has a trident, which is the traditional coat of arms for Ukraine.
#6. The border guard was most likely dead between 10 and 15 seconds into the video.
It typically takes about 15 seconds for blood loss to cause unconsciousness, so the border guard was likely feeling no pain after the 15 second mark of the video.
If this is a fake, it is a very good fake, down to the pocket litter on the ground. So, yes, I believe that this video is real.
Analysis of a Ukrainian Soldier Being Beheaded.