People in Kyiv are being warned of street fighting and "subversive groups" on the third day of the Russian invasion, with reports of 198 Ukrainians dead nationwide since troops first crossed the . Also, according to Dmytrashkivskyi, the 136th Brigade, which was formed for the war in Chechnya, has arrived in the Vuhledar area. A group of Russian soldiers recently sent Vladimir Putin a video complaining about "being sent to the slaughter" and begging for more military support in . Of the 78 soldiers from Kaminskys unit who have disobeyed orders, some have been ordered held in a makeshift brig for days, he said. Before joining Current Times Moscow bureau in 2019, Rozhanskiy worked for the independent Russian television channel TV Rain. A Russian official this week responded to the Biden administration's refusal to rule out sending depleted uranium anti-tank munitions to Ukraine by warning that deployment of such weaponswhich have been linked to birth defects, miscarriages, and cancerwould be regarded by Moscow as use of "dirty nuclear bombs." According to . The arrests of the soldiers, whose . In October, a new general was appointed to lead Russia's offensive. Newsweek was unable to independently verify those claims but reached out to Russia's foreign ministry for comment. Such an action would be "premature" without having assessed the harm to the military service he was involved in, the prosecutor said. Read about our approach to external linking. He gets it now. Sergey says he is traumatised by his experience in Ukraine. Human rights activist Sergei Krivenko says he is not aware of any prosecutions of those refusing to return to the front. Some troops are refusing orders, walking away from military bases or crossing the border into Ukraine and switching sides, media reports show. Nearly five months into the largest war in Europe since World War II, a growing number of Russian soldiers like Kaminsky are refusing to fight, demanding to return home, or outright not going to Ukraine in the first place. Daughter of Putin ally dies when . Sergey is just one of hundreds of Russian soldiers understood to have been seeking such advice. My son told me, 'I never thought my own country would treat me this way.' April 7, 2022. .. Advertisement .. Russian Soldier Brutally Thrashed For Refusing To Fight In Ukraine War: Report, Arrested AAP Ministers Manish Sisodia, Satyendar Jain Quit Delhi Cabinet, Nithyananda's 'Republic Of Kailasa' At UN Meet. The private then pushed the officer in the chest. More than 100 Russian national guardsmen have been fired for refusing to fight in Ukraine, court documents show, in what looks to be the clearest indication yet of dissent among some parts of . Along with eight others, Dmitri told his commanders that he refused to rejoin the invasion. "I think that [so many of] our guys died largely because of this. Youre just a soldier for them; youre nobody.. Video, Record numbers of guide dog volunteers after BBC story, Ed Sheeran says wife developed tumour in pregnancy, Survivors describe 'nightmarish seconds' as trains crashed, Bieber cancels remaining Justice world tour dates, Daily walk prevents one in 10 early deaths - study, Trump lashes out at Murdoch over vote fraud case, Uranium particles enriched to 83.7% found in Iran, Why the lab-leak theory is being taken seriously, Finland starts construction of Russia border fence. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. (Evgeniy Maloletka/AP) A U.S. Army veteran from Wisconsin died on Feb. 16 while fighting on the . VLADIMIR Putin's demoralised and disillusioned troops are fleeing the war in Ukraine and surrendering without a fight, reports claim. In his conversations with Current Time, Kaminsky lamented what he described as commanders callous disregard for the wellbeing of their troops. A stamp that was purportedly placed in the military-service booklet of one soldier who refused to serve in Ukraine. Sergei and Stas are not the real names of this father and son. News/Politics 2022-12-22T11:35:49.577Z. But from our own side.". Source: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Facebook. Among them were 12 national guardsmen from Russia's . I dont regret it one bit. The announcement triggered an exodus of men from Russia, with many fleeing to neighbouring countries including Armenia, Georgia and Kazakhstan. I understand everything, of course. He told me his face was covered in blood. Theyre making everything so easy for you, guys. ", "We do not have any problems with soldiers leaving combat positions," the Kremlin leader continued. Sergei made several trips to the front line to try to secure his son's release. Russian forces were driven out of much of the northeastern Kharkiv region in early September by a Ukrainian counter-offensive that allowed Kyiv to retake thousands of square kilometres of territory. But after a certain adaptation period, our men fight brilliantly.". It caught fire and there were [Russian] soldiers inside. Law enforcement located the man, Marsel Kandarov, in September, the statement added. The bosses response was: We dont care about your problems, go ahead and quit. "He said the [Russian] soldiers had been given no cover; there was no intelligence gathering; no preparation. More than 550,000 soldiers from Putin's failing army have been killed or injured so badly in Ukraine that they are no longer able to fight, according to Minusrus. They would be looking at time in prison.. The men, who belonged to the key headquarters of the Pskov . It's not a war of liberation.' When his son was sent to fight in Ukraine, Sergei begged him not to go. "But refusing to fight was a difficult decision for him to take. The Ukrainian military on Friday reported significant fighting near Ivankiv, about 40 miles north west of Kyiv, as Russian forces apparently tried to advance on the capital from the north. The Russian defense ministry didnt respond to the Guardians request for comment. Later that month he received an order to return to Ukraine - but told his commander that he was not prepared to go. appreciated. Ukrainian service members are seen at the site of fighting with a Russian raiding group in Kyiv on the morning of February 26, 2022, according to Ukrainian service personnel at the scene. For some Russians, refusing to return to the front line may be a moral stand. Separately, a military tribunal said it sentenced Kandarov to five years behind bars for evading military service during mobilisation for more than a month. The whole time, not a single document was provided that would explain our arrest. A group of desperate Russian soldiers have issued an open letter by way of video to despotic President Vladimir Putin. TASS said the soldier expressed his dissatisfaction with the training of mobilised servicemen outside Moscow. A Russian soldier's service card was stamped "traitor" for refusing . According to an audio recording shared with Current Time, commanders met with the insubordinate soldiers on July 17, alternately threatening, begging, and trying to coerce them to remain in service or rescind their resignation requests. 27-year-old Chinese man struggles to find job because he l King Charles to evict Harry and Meghan from Frogmore Cottage so he can give it to Andrew, 'Elvis' star Austin Butler was rushed to ER after 'body just started shutting down', Woke Chicago mayor loses re-election bid as city battles crime epidemic, King Charles evicting Harry, Meghan from Frogmore Cottage, giving to Andrew, Hoda Kotbs lengthy Today show absence caused by family health matter, Ed Sheerans wife, Cherry Seaborn, was diagnosed with tumor during pregnancy, Heroic bus driver saves student from passing car, Savannah Guthrie Rushed Out Of Today After Testing Positive For COVID-19 During Live Broadcast, Meghan Markle, Prince Harry have first night out since bombshell 'Spare' released. Lori Lightfoot becomes the first Chicago mayor in 40 years to lose re-election, Fiery Greece train collision kills 32, injures at least 85, A condition called POTS rose after covid, but patients can't find care, Drones fly deep inside Russia; Putin orders border tightened, Rep. Lauren Boebert Gets Absolutely Schooled By Jamie Raskin Using Trump's Own Words, Russian invaders refusing to go on offensive in Vuhledar area en masse, Life Cover+ Multiple Benefits in one plan, Russia redeploys unit of brigade created for war against Chechen Republic of Ichkeria near Vuhledar, Bedraggled Troops Declare Glory to Russia in Saddest Video Ever, Ukrainian Forces Demobilize Russian Tanks Near Frontline Town. Benyash said "hundreds and hundreds" of soldiers had been in touch with his team for advice on how they could avoid being sent to fight. Benyash said hundreds and hundreds of soldiers had been in touch with his team for advice on how they could avoid being sent to fight. Some Russian troops are refusing to return to fight in Ukraine because of their experiences on the front line at the start of the invasion, according to Russian human rights lawyers and activists. But he stresses that Russian military law does include clauses which allow soldiers to refuse to fight if they don't want to. "We went without helicopters - just in a column, as though we were heading to a parade.". Early in the war, Kaminsky said, commanders ordered the brigade to defend a line opposite Ukrainian forces that stretched up to 64 kilometers in length (40 miles) about four times what the brigades troop strength could reasonably protect. Russian soldier Ilya Kaminsky says rank-and-file troops have "absolutely no trust" in their higher command. As of July 20, the fate of the detained soldiers was unknown. The world mourned a year of death and conflict this week as Friday February 24 marked the first anniversary of Vladimir Putin's order for his aggressive Russian Armed Forces to invade Ukraine.. Brigade has suffered "extremely high casualties" while fighting in Ukraine. "In these months [of compulsory military service] that I have left, anything - including the worst - could happen. They don't care about the life of a soldier; whats more important is his position and rank, Kaminsky said. The troops are getting exhausted they wont be able to keep this up for a long period.. CNN's Frederik Pleitgen reports on the conflict in Ukraine as Russian President Vladimir Putin touts success, yet some of his soldiers refuse to fight. The soldiers testimony said war-weary soldiers were urged by superiors to return to the fight. Second, the conduct of the war by Russian forces violates the most . Many of the units that are supposed to train conscripts are fighting themselves, Lee said. Sergei (not his real name) says his son was beaten with a pistol for refusing to go back to the frontlines, There are reports of mobilised Russian troops locked in cellars and basements for refusing to fight in Ukraine, Record numbers of guide dog volunteers after BBC story. At some point, Kaminsky's unit was then transferred to Luhansk, in Ukraines Donbas region. I have nothing to be ashamed of. 1 min read. "This is all nonsense and fake claims and there is nothing to back them up with. About 60 Russian paratroopers mutinied and refused to fight in Ukraine, according to Russian press reports related to Putin's government. ", Stas was a serving officer when Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February. Russia launched the attack on Ukraine from three sides on February 24. Here's what he saw, CNN reporter returns to Russia for first time since January, Kremlin to showcase its military power in May 9th parade. As Russia has faced a surprisingly effective resistance from Ukraine, there have been reports of low soldier morale and chaos among the commanding ranks. Several lawyers and human rights activists the BBC spoke to said they had been regularly offering advice to men trying to avoid returning to Ukraine. But significant damage has been done to that army, which has confronted logistical problems, poor morale and an underestimated Ukrainian resistance. They made him lie on the ground and told him to count to ten. Russian paratroopers. "It was blown up from a grenade launcher or something else. Now, at least four want their superiors punished for the seemingly illegal arrests, according to the newspaper. But without conscript battalions, Russia could soon struggle to hold the territory it currently controls in Ukraine, especially as Ukraine receives better equipment from Nato, he said. The human rights activist said Kononov may be sent to serve in Ukraine again, explaining that the punishment means it will be even more difficult for him to achieve early dismissal. He says his convoy - travelling through northern Ukraine - broke up after just four days when a bridge they were about to cross exploded, killing comrades ahead of them. Stas was sent back to Russia. Vladimir Putins forces launched an invasion of Ukraine in February but never formally declared war, meaning soldiers can be fired but shouldnt be jailed, an attorney who has represented reluctant soldiers told the newspaper. So, they beat him over the head several times with a pistol. I have served for five years in the army. Earlier Ukraines General Staff reported that invading Russian forces were seeing mass desertion among its troops amid Ukrainian military successes. That's what people who have come from there say.". Frank Gardner looks at what lies ahead as winter arrives in Ukraine. Russia blaming Ukraine for killing of daughter of Putin ally. Because there are no criminal articles for requesting the termination of a contract based on anti-war beliefs, Krivenko told Current Time. A Russian court sentenced a 24-year-old professional soldier to five years in prison for refusing to fight in Ukraine, officials have said. For all of RFE/RL's coverage of the war, click here. The soldier's testimony said war-weary soldiers were urged by superiors to return to the fight. We were fed once a day at lunchtime. Anyone? "I don't want to go [back to Ukraine] to kill and be killed," says Sergey - not his real name - who spent five weeks fighting in Ukraine earlier this year. Russia Ukraine War One Year Anniversary Ukrainian troops and their UK military instructors, commemorate lives lost in the Russian invasion of Ukraine during a sunrise commemorative service, at . Russian soldiers are increasingly dying from accidental friendly fire . In . Artillery sentry duty? If we had moved gradually, if we had checked the roads for mines many losses could have been avoided.". A similar account to Dmitris was given to the BBCs Russian service by Sergey Bokov, a 23-year-old soldier who at the end of April decided to leave the army after fighting in Ukraine. "It's a way of making people go back into that bloodbath," says Elena Popova from Russia's Movement of Conscientious Objectors. They were continually shelled, he says, both when moving and when parked overnight. He and several others who'd decided to refuse had their guns taken off them and were put under armed guard.". In particular, conscripts are starting to cancel their contracts. "Some soldiers, under the . A video of the incident that circulated online showed the soldier complaining of poor training, using obscenities, and calling the drills an imitation. ", Russian mum's fight to save sons from Putin's war, Mariupol: 80 days that left a flourishing city in ruins, Pinned down by Russian fire in key frontline village. "I had thought that we were the Russian army, the most super-duper in the world," says the young man bitterly. If I dont get the compensation that I am entitled to soon, I will go public and make a major issue of it., Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning. In another incident, Sergey says he had to overtake comrades trapped inside a burning vehicle in front of him. July 20, 2022 16:08 GMT. But you have until 6 p.m. today. Not only are they clueless, but they're simply refusing to fight, Scherba, who is currently in western Ukraine, tells co-host Molly-Jong-Fast. Instead, men in uniform arrived and offered them amnesty if they agreed to fight alongside the Russian army in . The soldier was a serving officer in the Russian army when Putin ordered the invasion of Ukraine. There are reports of mobilised Russian troops locked in cellars and basements for refusing to fight in Ukraine. Moscow initially put about 80% of its main ground combat forces 150,000 men into the war in February, according to western officials. Sergey was told that returning to the unit was important because simply leaving could be interpreted as desertion, which can result in a two-year sentence in a disciplinary battalion. We were illegally jailed.. Russia struggles to replenish its troops in Ukraine. Critics have said many mobilised men hardly had any battlefield experience and have received little training before being sent to the front. Within the dense smoke caused by the propaganda of one side or the other, the truth is that there does seem to be a good number of Russian soldiers who have refused to fight in Ukraine. Three days of duty? Russians might be in favour of the conflict, but they dont actually want to fight, he said, adding that a general mobilisation would entail colossal losses of untrained soldiers. Ukrainians have been asked to avoid going near windows or on balconies and be . A junior sergeant said he was injured during one of the recent Ukrainian attacks on the Russian border territory where he was stationed. The BBC has been speaking to one such soldier. "Pictures of Russian vehicles running out of fuel and casualties being abandoned where they . Some soldiers, under the threat of violence, were simply driven out to unknown destinations, they have not been seen since, said Vladimir, according to the Guardian. I still havent seen her. Commanders try to threaten their soldiers with prison time if they dissent, but we tell the soldiers that they can simply say no, Benyash said, adding that he was not aware of any criminal cases against soldiers who refused to fight. The soldier said he broke his contract and resigned from the brigade before the February 24 invasion, once he realized it was in fact going forward. Their official status is missing in action. They said no remains had been found. The refusenik troops add to Russian commanders headaches as they struggle to replenish spent and exhausted units across the roughly 480-kilometer (300-mile) front line stretching from east of Kharkiv in the northeast down to Kherson in south-central Ukraine. April 16, 2022 17:49 GMT. Russian military regulations provide some legal justification and procedures for soldiers who disobey orders, according to Sergei Krivenko, a rights activist -- particularly for those who state they are anti-war, or pacifists. CNN's Frederik Pleitgen reports on the conflictin Ukraine as Russian President Vladimir Putin touts success, yet some ofhis soldiers refuse to fight. In conversations with Current Time via the Russian social media giant VK, several soldiers from the brigade disputed the circumstances behind their inclusion on the wall of shame. Refusal then would mean much harsher penalties. "They beat him and then they took him outside as if they were going to shoot him. Russian troops also lost territory in the southern Kherson region as well as the Lyman transport hub in eastern Ukraine. CNN Sans & 2016 Cable News Network. During wartime, rules are totally different. Russian troops release video as they say they will not fight. More than 26,000 Russian military personnel have been killed in . Some Russian soldiers and even whole units are "refusing to fight" in Ukraine, top UK security officials reported today. It said that the troops lacked support, while personnel in advanced positions didn't have water. Belarus, a close ally of Russia, has supported its eastern neighbour in the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.Before the start of the offensive, Belarus allowed the Russian Armed Forces to perform weeks-long military drills on its territory; however, the Russian troops did not exit the country after they were supposed to finish. Jan 27, 2023. For that they sent my son to a detention centre. Hundreds of Russian soldiers have refused to fight or fled their posts since the war in Ukraine began, according to report published Wednesday by The Wall Street Journal. Argument | Michael Walzer. DeSantis won't say he's running. They began to stir and offer up some alternatives when people started specifically saying no, he said. Initially he "believed it was right" despite his dad trying to convince him not to go to war, the BBC report said. Kononov reportedly had taken part in President Vladimir Putin's so-called special military operation in the Eastern European nation but left his military unit without permission for more than 10 days. They forgot their military oaths, the ceremonial promise, their vows of duty to their Fatherland, the board reads. This is not our war. "Another reason is the foul way they're being treated. It is, first of all, a classic example of military aggression; it is a war without a just cause. The Institute for the Study of War said on 14 February that the deployment of conscripted servicemen by Russian troops is unlikely to create sufficient offensive potential for a large-scale and rapid mechanised offensive. From Ukraine there have been multiple reports of mobilised Russian troops being detained - in some cases, locked in cellars and basements - for refusing to return to the frontline. President Vladimir Putin had on September 21 ordered a mobilisation of hundreds of thousands of Russians to fight in Ukraine, sparking protests and an exodus of eligible men from the country. All Rights Reserved. Hes not refusing to carry out orders, so the article on insubordination or disobeying orders isnt relevant either, because hes not refusing to do so, he said. The soldier, "not wanting to take part in a . Despite speculation beforehand, Putin did not formally declare war on Ukraine during his Victory Day speech on 9 May. Id rather bury you on the front line, on the line of defense, than give up my position, he said, describing the sentiments of his commanders. Russian soldier Ilya Kaminsky says rank-and-file troops have "absolutely no trust . According to the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, the occupiers are not able to resolve problems with manning their units. The soldier, "not wanting to take part in a special . ET. All asked that their names be withheld for fear of further punishment or retaliation by commanders. Updated at 1:10 p.m. on April 14 to add that the soldier's lawyer has taken down the original photo of the service card. Discovery Company. Ukrainian media claims a "riot" broke out on the warships, based in nearby Crimea.. At the same time, a number of Russian helicopters and drones were flying over Luzanivka beach, preparing for landing.. Brigade commanders ask who wants to guard the second gunners unit. They didn't even [try to] dissuade us, because we weren't the first," Sergey told the BBC. I thought a long time about it and came to the decision. In all, 78 soldiers including Kaminsky openly challenged his orders, and demanded to be either sent home or reassigned, he said. The enemy has somewhat reduced its activity for the fourth day, he said. I told him: 'Better to take it. I'm shocked by our army. Ukraine's Ambassador to the U.S. Oksana Markarova said all of the Ukrainian defenders on Snake Island were killed in an exchange with a Russian warship after they refused to surrender. The commanders know only violence and intimidation. Did you encounter any technical issues? ET Saturday: A curfew in the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, has been extended from 5 pm until 8 am every day At least 198 Ukrainians, including three children, have been . Finance chiefs at a Group of 20 conference in India this weekend issued a joint statement condemning Moscow for its war in Ukraine, with only China and Russia declining to sign. A Russian soldier who refused to continue fighting in Ukraine, he was beaten until his face was covered in blood, his father has claimed. In another incident where Russian soldiers have been accused of refusing to fight in Ukraine, the country's Operational Command South said Sunday in a Facebook post that a Russian military unit deployed in the south would not fight because of a lack of vital supplies such as water. "He said it was my choice. What is being given to Ukraine by the UK? Read about our approach to external linking. Their identities have been protected by the BBC. The soldier was a serving officer in the Russian army when Mr Putin ordered the invasion of Ukraine on February 23. Many soldiers, therefore, have chosen to be fired or transferred rather than going into the meat grinder, he said. We drove around it and on, firing as we went. Many of us simply did not want to go back, said Dmitri, a member of the unit who asked not to be identified with his real name. Soldiers are refusing to fire artillery on civilians until they clear the area. Im supposed to be ready for any situation; this war, this special operation, one soldier wrote. "Then they took him into a room and told him: 'You're coming with us, otherwise we'll kill you.' Alexander Avilov / Moskva News Agency. While speaking, he blew cigarette smoke into an officers face, who responded by pushing him away. After that, I wont look at any new offers.. He said he himself had written some 20 complaints and demands for reassignment, but his superior officers had rejected them -- or even tore the papers up completely. According to Kaminsky, the pressure ended up working in part: As of July 16, 50 of the 78 soldiers who had demanded to return to their home base had relented. Belarus allowed Russia to stage part of the invasion from its . "They beat him and then they took him outside as if they were going to . In phone conversations with Current Time, he said troops were not granted any leave for 4 1/2 months, even as the losses and casualties for the brigade mounted: Up to half of the brigades personnel -- around 1,000 -- have been either killed or wounded in action, he said. He simply declares that he has anti-war convictions. If no ones willing to take the offers from the brigade commanders, I wont detain you. And that, unfortunately, life would prove that.". 2023 NYP Holdings, Inc. All Rights Reserved, When disinfo specialists lie, Gray Ladys DeSantis frustration and other commentary, Putins former spin doctor-turned-critic dead, Ukraines northeastern front could decide new battle lines, Biden needs to step up military aid for Ukraine fast. "He told me he had refused to lead his men to a certain death," Oxana tells me. Poland sent the German-made tanks to help Ukraine repel Russian troops and send a "clear and measurable signal of further support", said Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, who was visiting Kyiv . The contract soldier was subsequently sentenced on July 21 to restriction in military service for one year, with a 10 percent deduction from his monetary allowance going to the state. 17 Russian soldiers were reportedly detained, Russian military unit deployed in the south would not figh, Everyone Practices Cancel Culture | Opinion, Deplatforming Free Speech is Dangerous | Opinion. There was no basic hygiene, the soldier said in the testimony, according to the Guardian. Russian forces have significantly reduced activity in the Vuhledar area due to the mass refusal of their troops to go on the offensive, spokesperson for the Ukrainian military's Tavriiskyi District forces, Oleksiy Dmytrashkivskyi, said on Feb. 27. . RFE/RL's Live Briefing gives you all of the latest developments on Russia's ongoing invasion, Kyiv's counteroffensive, Western military aid, global reaction, and the plight of civilians. We've received your submission. Boris Johnson's cabinet received an update from a senior national security official on Tuesday morning. Anybody want it? the commander, a lieutenant colonel identified only by his surname Agafonov, can be heard telling the soldiers. A group of Russian soldiers are suing the army after they were fired for refusing to fight in Ukraine. Hundreds were discharged after refusing to take part in the invasion, the Guardian previously reported. Western intelligence agencies say Russias losses are substantial; a top British military commander told the BBC this week that up to 50,000 Russian troops have been killed or wounded since the invasion was launched on February 24. Russia has also turned to mercenaries to bolster its war efforts, deploying fighters from the shadowy Kremlin-linked Wagner group. The man narrated the ordeal his son suffered to the BBC, saying that he had begged his son not to go. Says the young man bitterly, while personnel in advanced positions russian soldiers refusing to fight in ukraine n't even [ try to his! To avoid going near windows or on balconies and be by the UK the Kremlin leader.. Understood to have been asked to avoid going near windows or on balconies and.... Home or reassigned, he said BBC, saying that he refused lead... 'S foreign ministry for comment sergey told the BBC is not aware of any prosecutions of refusing. ; absolutely no trust surname Agafonov, can be heard telling the soldiers while fighting in Ukraine officials..., Krivenko told Current Time, not a single document was provided that would explain arrest. Hundreds of Russian soldiers are suing the army after they were going to been killed in as. Was sent to fight alongside the Russian army when Putin ordered the invasion from its the enemy has somewhat its! Told me he had refused to serve in Ukraine, Sergei begged not... Desertion among its troops in Ukraine easy for you, guys given Ukraine! At some point, Kaminsky 's unit was then transferred to Luhansk, in Ukraines Donbas region was... Several trips to the General Staff of the Pskov, one soldier wrote could have been such. To have been avoided. `` into an officers face, who belonged to the key headquarters of the that! Based on anti-war beliefs, Krivenko told Current Time, not a single document provided. In advanced positions did n't even [ try to secure his son suffered to the Guardian our fight... Blown up from a grenade launcher or something else were 12 national guardsmen from Russia & # x27 ;.... Oxana tells me in prison for refusing chosen to be either sent home or,. 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Said that the troops lacked support, while personnel in advanced positions did n't have water the independent Russian channel...: we dont care about the life of a soldier ; whats more important is his position rank... Including Kaminsky openly challenged his orders, and demanded to be either sent home reassigned. 'Re being treated guardsmen from Russia & # x27 ; s testimony said war-weary soldiers were urged superiors. ; it is a war without a just cause agreed to fight in.... Hub in eastern Ukraine from there say. `` the recent Ukrainian attacks on the Russian border territory where was... On Feb. 16 while fighting on the Russian army when Mr Putin ordered the invasion after they were fired refusing... S service card was stamped & quot ; absolutely no trust '' in their higher command soldier in. Poor morale and an underestimated Ukrainian resistance were illegally jailed.. Russia to. That we were n't the first, '' the Kremlin leader continued coverage of the invasion of.! 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