Vladimir Putin is facing the prospect of having to crack down on another mutiny as growing numbers of soldiers refuse to obey orders from their commanders, an independent Russian news source has claimed.
Russian-language Telegram Channel Astra alleged families of Russian soldiers in Ukraine have increasingly reported they have been detained for disobeying or outright ignoring commands.
They have also added to the endless list of anecdotes about the lack of preparedness of top officials as well as the lack of food, water and artillery supplies.
Speculation of unrest comes less than six months after Putin was threatened with an ouster as late Wagner leader Yevgeny Prigozhin ordered his men to head for Moscow.
Astra claimed there are currently at least 16 locations across the occupied Ukrainian territories where unruly solders have been detained for insubordination.
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The reports alleged the men’s phones have been confiscated and they are allowed no contact with families and friends.
The channel’s moderator said it had collected information about 173 detained soldiers but said the number was “the tip of the iceberg.”
Soldiers caught on insubordination charges are sent back to Russia’s training grounds before being absorbed into new assault units sent to the front line.
A group of soldiers had reportedly been detained at Rozsypne, in the Donetsk Oblast before retraining in the Kursk region of Russia.
The men, around 50 troops from the 15th Motorized Rifle Regiment, would then be sent to join efforts to end the Ukrainian counteroffensive at Avdiivka, according to the lawyer of one of the soldiers.
A military analyst known as Chris O’Wiki on X, formerly Twitter, shared the claims on his profile and noted the discontent is widely fueled by the heavy losses Russia has experienced recently.
He wrote: “Hundreds of Russian soldiers may have mutinied in recent weeks as the Russian army accumulates huge losses in offensives in several regions of Ukraine.
“At least 173 men are reported to have been detained for refusing orders, and this may be just the tip of the iceberg.”
He added: “The ongoing heavy fighting around Kupiansk and Avdiivka is said to have been the cause of a number of revolts (see below for one example).
“Ex-convicts are also reported to have been detained to pressure them into signing new contracts.”
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