From The New York Times.

A Russian solider, Sergey, to his girlfriend.

“We detained them, undressed them and checked all their clothes.Then a decision had to be made whether to let them go. If we let them go, they could give away our position….So it was decided to shoot them in the forest.“

Girlfriend:

“Did you shoot them?“

Sergey:

“Of course we shot them.”

Girlfriend:

“Why didn’t you take them as prisoners?“

Sergey:

“We would have had to feed them, and we don’t have enough food ourselves, you see.”