Defence Secretary Ben Wallace arrived in Kyiv for talks with Ukrainian officials on Wednesday morning. Wallace is expected to discuss the UK’s supply of long-range missiles to Ukraine in its fight against Russia.
In his unannounced meeting with his counterpart Oleksii Reznikov, Wallace is also expected to discuss Ukraine’s bid to join NATO.
The visit comes as the MoD stated on Wednesday that thousands of Russian soldiers have now gone AWOL since the start of the war.
In its latest update on Ukraine, it said: “Reliable research conducted by independent journalists in Russia indicates that there has been a significant increase in cases of military personnel going absent without leave (AWOL) between January and May 2023, surpassing the total number of such cases in 2022.
“The Russian military has encountered challenges in maintaining discipline within its ranks during its operations in Ukraine, and these difficulties have likely intensified following the compulsory mobilization of reservists since October 2022.
“Data from military courts reveals that a majority of those found guilty of going AWOL are currently receiving suspended sentences, allowing them to be redeployed for the ‘special military operation’.
“Rather than addressing the underlying causes of soldiers’ disillusionment, Russia’s efforts to enhance discipline have primarily focused on setting deterrent examples and fostering patriotic fervour.”
More to follow…
