Russian soldiers lack training, motivation, and are refusing to fight, UK intelligence says
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There is a high rate of desertion among Russian forces, demonstrating low morale and the reluctance of some Russian soldiers to fight, reads the latest Ukraine situation intelligence report issued by the UK Ministry of Defense on Aug. 30
The desertions likely reflect a lack of training and motivation affecting Russian forces along the entire Ukrainian front line, the Defense Intelligence report said.
UK intelligence analysts scrutinized reports about two Russian military personnel sentenced to serve at least two years in a penal colony for refusing to obey orders to return to the front in Ukraine. Another investigation by Russian independent news website Meduza indicates a surge in criminal cases related to soldiers taking unauthorized leave from military units in Russia. Within the first six months of 2023, the courts received 2,076 such cases, according to previous reports.
Despite the fact that some Russian soldiers have declined to participate in combat operations and casualties remain substantial, Russia presumably compensates for its losses by deploying poorly trained soldiers to the front line. If this trend persists, the number of convictions for refusing to participate in the war against Ukraine could escalate to 5,200 cases annually, UK intelligence experts say.
Financial compensation, in the form of salaries and additional benefits, is the main factor driving Russians to enlist in the Russian Armed Forces, particularly those residing in the "impoverished regions" of the country, an earlier UK intelligence report on Aug. 29 reads.
In an interview with Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Kyrylo Budanov, the Chief of Intelligence for the Ukrainian military, noted that Russia is contemplating the mobilization of an additional 450,000 individuals. Russia revised its conscription law to raise the draft age from 27 to 30 on July 25.
Russia, due to setbacks in their invasion of Ukraine, might intend to enlist another 400,000 contract soldiers. Russian losses in Ukraine are approaching 257,000.
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