Russian soldiers raise allegations against Putin over losses in the Ukraine war. Apparently reports of the deaths of deceased comrades are being manipulated.
According to the conversation heard in the phone call, deceased soldiers are reported as missing - and not as deceased. Soldiers repeatedly report unreasonable conditions at the front and the unrealistic goals of the Russian commanders. Many soldiers, in conversations intercepted by Ukrainian intelligence, discussed desertion and how they could avoid further service in the army. One soldier even went so far as to say, “Soon we will gather a crowd and head to Russia.” Russia's exact losses in Ukraine war are unclear. Ukrainian reports put Russian casualties at over 450,000 men. The British Ministry of Defense, however, estimated that 350,000 Russian soldiers would be killed or seriously injured in February. The Kremlin stated that it had planned a budget for 100,000 deceased soldiers and their families in the state budget in 2024. And discontent in Russia – at least among the soldiers – seems to be growing.