Documents Reveal Hundreds of Russian Troops Broke Ranks Over Ukraine Orders
![]() 1228 Thursday, 02 June, 2022, 00:48 Hundreds of Russian soldiers have escaped the fighting in Ukraine or refused to take part during the early stages of the war, according to military decrees viewed by The Wall Street Journal as well as accused soldiers and lawyers defending them. Russia’s army stumbled badly early in its invasion of Ukraine and suffered thousands of casualties and the loss of an estimated quarter of its deployed military hardware, a senior Pentagon official said in April. Desertions and insubordination among soldiers, Interior Ministry troops and members of the National Guard are compounding the problem. The desertions place Russian authorities in a bind over how to punish those who refuse to serve without drawing more attention to the issue, defense experts said. The Russian military is short on manpower and seeking recruits to help turn the tide in Ukraine. Penalties have so far been largely limited to formal dismissals from service. Because Russia hasn’t declared war on Ukraine, there also are few legal grounds for criminal charges against those who refuse to serve abroad, according to a lawyer and former military prosecutor’s assistant who is defending soldiers fired for insubordination. |
Taiwanese Troops Train To Use Subway To Their Advantage During Chinese Invasion Of Taipei (video)
151Yesterday, 21:16EU fails to approve new Russia sanctions
179Yesterday, 20:52Russia responds to Trump's Ukraine 'ultimatum' with drone strikes: Reuters
188Yesterday, 19:15Ara Abrahamyan: "Pashinyan is looking for a candidate for a new Catholicos"
277Yesterday, 15:15Ruben Vardanyan's trumped-up trial continues
229Yesterday, 12:1078 people died waiting for aids in Gaza
219Yesterday, 11:42US May Include Long-Range Missiles in Ukraine Aid Package: Axios
33414.07.2025, 21:48Turkey originally proposed the idea․ #MiddleEastEye
25714.07.2025, 18:36