On August 25, a Russian military court sentenced two soldiers to 2 years in prison for their refusal to return to the front in Ukraine. Earlier in July, "Mediazona" reported that Russian courts hand down about 100 verdicts every week for unauthorized abandonment of a military unit.
"The large number of convictions indicates the low morale of the Russian army and the refusal of some soldiers to participate in the war. This refusal is likely to reflect the lack of training and motivation, as well as the high stress situations faced by Russian troops along the entire Ukrainian front line," the UK Ministry of Defense said in a report today.
"Although some soldiers are refusing to fight and casualty rates remain high, Russia is likely to compensate for these losses by sending large numbers of under-trained soldiers to the front line. Following the partial mobilization in September 2022, Russia has adapted its approach to warfare, using concentrations of troops for offensive and defensive operations," the British intelligence added.
Latest Defence Intelligence update on the situation in Ukraine – 30 August 2023
— Ministry of Defence (@DefenceHQ) August 30, 2023
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