- Sputnik International, 1920, 25.02.2022
Russia's Special Operation in Ukraine
On February 24, 2022 Russia launched a special military operation in Ukraine, aiming to liberate the Donbass region where the people's republics of Donetsk and Lugansk had been living under regular attacks from Kiev's forces.

Ukrainian Military Shoots at Own Fighters for Desertion Near Kherson - Source

© AP Photo / Evgeniy MaloletkaFILE - Ukrainian servicemen prepare to fire at Russian positions from a U.S.-supplied M777 howitzer
FILE - Ukrainian servicemen prepare to fire at Russian positions from a U.S.-supplied M777 howitzer - Sputnik International, 1920, 25.08.2023
Subscribe
HENICHESK (Sputnik) - Ukrainian militants from the 123rd territorial defense brigade have shot 23 of their own fighters for attempting to desert from their positions near Kherson, a Russian security source told Sputnik, citing a source with the Ukrainian armed forces.
"Information was obtained from sources in the armed forces of Ukraine on the execution of 23 servicemen of the 123rd brigade of the territorial defense of the armed forces of Ukraine on August 11 in Kherson because they decided to desert and abandon their positions," the source said.
The Ukrainian military command added the executed soldiers to the list of missing people to cover up the incident, the source said, adding that the Russian security forces managed to learn the names of 10 killed fighters.
Ukrainian soldiers in a dugout. - Sputnik International, 1920, 22.08.2023
Russia's Special Operation in Ukraine
Ukrainian Squad Leader Kills Own Soldier Near Kupyansk
The finding comes shortly after reports surfaced that a Ukrainian squad leader had fatally shot one of his own service members after they had panicked during an encounter with Russian troops. A source told Sputnik at the time that the incident was captured on a cellphone that was found on the individual's person.

Mass Desertion Amid Low Morale

Numerous Ukrainian troops in the Zaporozhye Region have been plagued by low morale amid the recent heavy casualties. According to Yevgeny Balitsky, Zaporozhye region’s acting governor, approximately 500 Ukrainian soldiers fled the offensive on the Zaporozhye front in mid-August.
“I just received information that two of the three airmobile battalions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine refused to participate in offensive operations in the direction of our positions due to their low moral and psychological state,” Balitsky wrote on his Telegram channel.
Earlier in August, Ukrainian soldiers crossed the Dnepr River on a boat to defect to the Russian Armed Forces.
One of the defectors from Kiev's army told Sputnik that together with two of his fellow troops, they opted to surrender after three days on the front lines due to neglect by their commanders, lack of combat training and hunger.
Ukrainian soldier tells why he defected to Russian side - Sputnik International, 1920, 17.08.2023
Russia's Special Operation in Ukraine
Starving Ukrainian Soldiers Swim Across Dnepr River to Surrender to Russians
In early June, Ukraine after months of delays made an attempt to launch its much-heralded counteroffensive. However, the effort resulted in nothing more than severe losses in manpower and military equipment.
A shell on the territory of Donetsk filter plant located on the contact line in Donbass between Yasinovataya and Avdeyevka where extensive shellings by the Ukrainian army were recorded. - Sputnik International, 1920, 06.04.2023
Russia's Special Operation in Ukraine
Ukrainian Artillery Kills Its Own Soldiers Who Surrendered Near Avdeyevka: Russian Defense Ministry
Newsfeed
0
To participate in the discussion
log in or register
loader
Chats
Заголовок открываемого материала