Russian soldiers are being slaughtered as they go up against their Ukrainian counterparts without ammunition, according to a recently released interview with a soldier’s wife.
Three Russian brigades were virtually destroyed in the fight for the settlement of Andriivka about eight miles south of Bakhmut, according to a Ukrainian general.
One Russian soldier’s family described the dire situation he and his comrades faced on the ground with near-zero support from their officers.
The man’s wife said: “They are thrown into this Andriivka practically without weapons. [My husband] said that basically ‘we are going at them with shovels and without artillery support’.”
Even in the face of an almost certain death, there can be no retreat, according to the soldier’s wife. Speaking to Radio Liberty, she said: “There’s no retreat because there are people behind us who won’t spare us either.”
The use of so-called barrier units by the Russian side has been documented throughout the war and in June video emerged of retreating Russian soldiers appearing to be gunned down by their own side.
In addition, a video purportedly from Andriivka appears to show surrendering Russians shelled in friendly fire as they made their way to Ukrainian lines.
Later, the soldier – who has had his name withheld for his protection – told reporters: “We send 25 people on a mission, and only six return. Our artillerymen are currently launching assaults.
“They were told ‘you still have no ammunition; go in as infantry’. But the guys don’t even know what an assault is.
“Essentially, they send us there as cannon fodder. We need the coordinates for our artillery and information about the targets we should engage, but our artillery can’t function because they lack shells.”
He claims that when desperate soldiers facing cluster bombs and intense Ukrainian bombardments relay the hopeless situation to their commanders, the response is often: “So what?”
The peek into the life of a Russian soldier on the frontlines in Ukraine could help explain – partially – how the 72nd Motor Rifle Brigade as well as the elite 31st and 83rd Air Assault Brigades were virtually destroyed fighting for Andriivka.
Although the claims made by Ukrainian sources have not been verified, The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) – which covers the Ukraine conflict – said on Monday that Ukraine made advances south of Bakhmut which could mean heavy losses for Moscow.
ISW said: “These VDV [Russian airborne] elements were involved in counterattacking and attempting to roll back Ukrainian advances around Bakhmut…and likely suffered heavy losses.”
Bakhmut was taken by Wagner mercenary forces in May after a 10-month battle – the front surrounding the destroyed city has seen some of the bloodiest fighting of the war.
With the capture of Andriivka and nearby Klishchiivka, Ukraine appears to have achieved a breakthrough in Russian lines while taking higher ground around Bakhmut.
There have been reports that units in the east have been moved to the southern front to shore up defences against a fierce Ukrainian assault in Zaporizhzhia. This likely weakened Russian defences in the east allowing Ukraine to exploit the situation in Donetsk.
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