Since Russia invaded Ukraine in late February it has suffered losses on the battlefield. In what Russia calls a “special military operation” they have had tens of thousands of soldiers killed or captured. And Ukraine’s successful counterattack put Putin’s army on the defense.
A massive amount of Russia’s stocks of weapons were committed to the conflict with Ukraine. And the losses have mounted with Russia leaving behind equipment as the military fled previously occupied areas.
Hundreds of weapons and military vehicles were destroyed or abandoned when Russia withdrew from the Kyiv area in March. And last weekend’s counterattack in the Kharkiv region has decimated the Russian battlefield weaponry.
Needless to say, morale is low within the Russian military. And all reports are that soldiers are abandoning the frontlines and running for their lives. On Tuesday the Russian Duma cracked down by increasing the punishment for desertion and other “crimes committed in conditions of mobilization, martial law, armed conflicts and hostilities.”
