‘False marriages and no water: Russian soldiers’ morale at rock bottom’ | Abroad

In one such conversation, we hear a soldier on the home front tell how another soldier has wanted to go home for some time “but the only way that is now possible is wounded or dead.” The soldier in question himself then tried to find an original way to be sent home: “I already said to a friend: ‘Go damn it and apply for a marriage license. I’ll take care of it here.’ But when I tried that, they said, ‘No, no, that’s not an option’. Everyone here is trying to figure out a way to get away… but no one succeeds.”

Earlier there were reports of Russian troops sabotaging their own equipment to avoid being sent to the front, or injuring themselves so that they would be sent home.

Water

A new problem is the approaching summer and accompanying heat in Ukraine. Since Russia’s military leadership believed that ‘the special military operation’ would only last a few days or weeks, they are now faced with logistical problems, such as the soldiers wearing uniforms intended for cold conditions. Another problem is a lack of water.

This was also apparent from another telephone conversation intercepted by the Ukrainian intelligence services. “The water supply has stopped. We’re out of water here, and it’s hot. It’s even hot, and everyone is in shock here. Depressed.”

Desertie

It should therefore come as no surprise that Russian soldiers are planning to desert. In a third phone call, we hear a soldier tell a relative that “most of the men in my unit have refused to fight” and are “trying to sneak away to cross the border back into Russia. Right now, ten people are trying to get a truck ready. If nonsense breaks out here again, they jump in that truck to drive to Belgorod. They have already filled the jerry cans with diesel. I have agreed with them that they will pick me up when they leave.”

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