The hundreds of Russian soldiers killed every day in the fighting in eastern Ukraine are apparently joined by numerous army personnel who surrender to Ukrainian forces – mostly newly drafted men who have left the country without proper equipment or food, were sent to the frontside. Intercepted phone calls from soldiers and statements from prisoners of war also show that the Russians are falling further and further behind. “We’re just meat,” a Russian defector told Ukrainian soldiers.
About 20 Russians surrendered Monday near the Russian-occupied city of Svatove in the Luhansk region, according to the Ukrainian army. The men are said to have called the Ukrainians over the radio and announced their position. There they would wait unarmed in a basement for their arrest, that’s how it would have been. In fact, units of the 92nd Armored Brigade came into contact with the recently deployed soldiers. “Since then, we have been treated better than before in the trench,” said an interview with the group in a video released by the Ukrainian military (see tweet below).
‘First officers ran away’
They were sent to the front “without training” and “without leadership”. “First the officers ran away and left us behind. We have had no drinking water for three days,” the Russians complain. Several of them also claim that they have not fired a single shot. “We don’t want to fight at all.”
The video was also shared on Russian Telegram channels. An intercepted telephone conversation between a frontline soldier and his sister also spread on social media. The man, who is also deployed in Luhansk, speaks of numerous losses, dead soldiers are removed every day. “Don’t believe what you see on TV,” emphasizes the young man.
Military prosecutor investigates many victims
A letter of complaint from members of the 155th Marine Brigade of the Russian Pacific Fleet shows that 300 men were killed in fighting in the Donetsk region within four days. The Telegram channel “Grey Zone”, which is said to have connections with the Wagner mercenary group, published the letter addressed to the governor of Primorsky Krai, Oleg Koshemyako.
Koshemyako admitted heavy fighting and casualties in the 155th Brigade on Monday. However, these are “not nearly as high” as stated in Sunday’s soldiers’ letter, he said in a video message published on his official Telegram channel. The commanders at the front would have assured him that. The military prosecutor’s office was called in to investigate the matter.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
