Russia struggles to replenish its troops in Ukraine. Hawara: 'What happened was horrific and barbaric', The people who want you to believe the Ukraine war is fake. He revealed to his father what had happened to him in detention: how a "different group" of Russian soldiers had tried to force him to fight. Argument | Michael Walzer. ET Saturday: A curfew in the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, has been extended from 5 pm until 8 am every day At least 198 Ukrainians, including three children, have been . The Insider. In the southern Russian town of Budyonnovsk, on the home base for the 205th Cossack Motorized Rifle Brigade, commanders have erected a wall of shame with the names, ranks, and photographs of some 300 soldiers who have disobeyed orders in the Ukraine war. Within the dense smoke caused by the propaganda of one side or the other, the truth is that there does seem to be a good number of Russian soldiers who have refused to fight in Ukraine. By Timofei Rozhanskiy. Then I started getting messages from him asking what would happen if he refused to fight.". The Insider. Russia blaming Ukraine for killing of daughter of Putin ally. The Ukrainian military on Friday reported significant fighting near Ivankiv, about 40 miles north west of Kyiv, as Russian forces apparently tried to advance on the capital from the north. "The commanders' aim is to keep the soldiers down there. Belarus allowed Russia to stage part of the invasion from its . Produced by Will Vernon. Later that month he received an order to return to Ukraine - but told his commander that he was not prepared to go. Russian rights activists say hundreds, possibly thousands of troops are balking at orders to deploy, to keep fighting, or to remain on the battlefield without rotating out or home. He said he himself had written some 20 complaints and demands for reassignment, but his superior officers had rejected them -- or even tore the papers up completely. For all of RFE/RL's coverage of the war, click here. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Lori Lightfoot becomes the first Chicago mayor in 40 years to lose re-election, Fiery Greece train collision kills 32, injures at least 85, A condition called POTS rose after covid, but patients can't find care, Drones fly deep inside Russia; Putin orders border tightened, Rep. Lauren Boebert Gets Absolutely Schooled By Jamie Raskin Using Trump's Own Words, Russian invaders refusing to go on offensive in Vuhledar area en masse, Life Cover+ Multiple Benefits in one plan, Russia redeploys unit of brigade created for war against Chechen Republic of Ichkeria near Vuhledar, Bedraggled Troops Declare Glory to Russia in Saddest Video Ever, Ukrainian Forces Demobilize Russian Tanks Near Frontline Town. Several lawyers and human rights activists the BBC spoke to said they had been regularly offering advice to men trying to avoid returning to Ukraine. War-weary Russian soldiers have been thrown in jail by their commanders after they refused to fight in Ukraine over the invasions total disregard for human life, a new report claims. ", Stas was a serving officer when Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February. That is not to say that prosecutions are not being attempted. Along with eight others, Dmitri told his commanders that he refused to rejoin the invasion. But I was thinking, Im still young; at any moment, a piece of shrapnel, a bullet could fly into my head. But even before that, there are many reports from our intelligence officers, who work quite successfully, about what is going at the enemy both in the rear and on the front line there are very frequent refusals to participate in hostilities., Read also: Russians pushing for breakthrough near Vuhledar, but unlikely to succeed, says UK intelligence. A Russian soldier who refused to fight in the war in Ukraine was allegedly beaten and locked up by his own comrades, according to a report. But, he had been sufficiently worried about his unit's reaction to his refusal that he decided to seek legal advice. Soldiers with the 127th Regiment of the 1st Army Corps rioted, according to the operational command. In phone conversations with Current Time, he said troops were not granted any leave for 4 1/2 months, even as the losses and casualties for the brigade mounted: Up to half of the brigades personnel -- around 1,000 -- have been either killed or wounded in action, he said. Russian troops also lost territory in the southern Kherson region as well as the Lyman transport hub in eastern Ukraine. But, after a few months, he made the decision to sign a two-year professional contract which would also give him a salary. My contract ends in June. All asked that their names be withheld for fear of further punishment or retaliation by commanders. Many Russian soldiers would rather be dismissed or transferred than fight in Ukraine. Source: cnnespanol All news articles on 2023-02-28 You may like. If no ones willing to take the offers from the brigade commanders, I wont detain you. A court in the Russian city of Ufa has sentenced a 24-year-old corporal to five years in prison for refusing to fight in Ukraine. As Russia's forces run out of food and fuel, some h Sergey joined the army as a conscript - most Russian men between the ages of 18-27 must complete one year of compulsory military service. Why wasn't it done?". Ukraine's Ambassador to the U.S. Oksana Markarova said all of the Ukrainian defenders on Snake Island were killed in an exchange with a Russian warship after they refused to surrender. But you cannot force people to fight.". RUSSIAN soldiers are suffering from low morale with some reportedly refusing to fight the war in Ukraine, according to a member of an elite Russian army unit on the ground. My daughter was born three months ago. They made him lie on the ground and told him to count to ten. Quote from the General Staff: "Troops from the so-called . Read about our approach to external linking. Ukrainian . Poland sent the German-made tanks to help Ukraine repel Russian troops and send a "clear and measurable signal of further support", said Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, who was visiting Kyiv . Russian soldiers are increasingly dying from accidental friendly fire . Im warning you, this is a final offer, he is heard telling the soldiers. Did you encounter any technical issues? We've received your submission. His superiors argued that he should not be given the monetary compensation of up to 2,500 that wounded Russians are entitled to by law because his injury took place on Russian soil meaning it did not fall under the rules of Russias special military operation. If a soldier acts according to such procedures, then he cannot be criminally prosecuted for this. Newsweek was unable to independently verify those claims but reached out to Russia's foreign ministry for comment. Reports from Russia said authorities would call up 300,000 people with "relevant" skills or military experience. Andrei, a Russian lieutenant, stopped fighting. It doesn't make sense. Human rights activist Sergei Krivenko says he is not aware of any prosecutions of those refusing to return to the front. Never mind the myriad reports of Russian troops refusing to fight by the thousands, sabotaging their own shoddy equipment and even deliberately wounding themselves to abandon the war, Russian . What is being given to Ukraine by the UK? The human rights activist said Kononov may be sent to serve in Ukraine again, explaining that the punishment means it will be even more difficult for him to achieve early dismissal. Youre just a soldier for them; youre nobody.. The contract soldier was subsequently sentenced on July 21 to restriction in military service for one year, with a 10 percent deduction from his monetary allowance going to the state. There was no basic hygiene, the soldier said in the testimony, according to the Guardian. 27-year-old Chinese man struggles to find job because he l King Charles to evict Harry and Meghan from Frogmore Cottage so he can give it to Andrew, 'Elvis' star Austin Butler was rushed to ER after 'body just started shutting down', Woke Chicago mayor loses re-election bid as city battles crime epidemic, King Charles evicting Harry, Meghan from Frogmore Cottage, giving to Andrew, Hoda Kotbs lengthy Today show absence caused by family health matter, Ed Sheerans wife, Cherry Seaborn, was diagnosed with tumor during pregnancy, Heroic bus driver saves student from passing car, Savannah Guthrie Rushed Out Of Today After Testing Positive For COVID-19 During Live Broadcast, Meghan Markle, Prince Harry have first night out since bombshell 'Spare' released. Each of our interviewees had dealt with dozens of cases and believed those soldiers were also sharing advice with their colleagues. Brigade has suffered "extremely high casualties" while fighting in Ukraine. In particular, conscripts are starting to cancel their contracts. "Pictures of Russian vehicles running out of fuel and casualties being abandoned where they . April 16, 2022 17:49 GMT. A month later - 24 February, the day Russia launched its invasion - he was told to cross the border. I want to return to my family and not in a casket.. And while the current status of the conflict gives Russian soldiers a legal path to refuse participation, some soldiers have complained that it has also led to them not being adequately cared for. Many of the newly mobilised troops were quick to complain that they were being sent to a war zone without sufficient equipment or adequate training. A group of Russian soldiers recently sent Vladimir Putin a video complaining about "being sent to the slaughter" and begging for more military support in . Russia announced the mobilisation of 300,000 men in late September after suffering battlefield defeats at the hands of Ukrainian forces. "As an officer he understood that if they went ahead, they wouldn't get out alive. April 7, 2022. Russian state media aired footage of blitzed buildings and abandoned streets in Bakhmut , the eastern city where Ukrainian forces have been . In Buryatia, where the 11th Brigade is based, dozens of personnel have sought legal assistance from local activists, seeking to break their contracts and get out of service in Ukraine, for various reasons. Andrei Kolesnikov, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment, said the authorities may be worried that a general mobilisation would antagonise large sections of the population that support the special operation. "Later I was told that the building they were in had been shelled and that all five men were missing. Dmitris refusal to fight highlights some of the military difficulties the Russian army has faced as a result of the Kremlins political decision not to formally declare war on Ukraine preferring instead to describe the invasion, which will soon reach its fourth month, as a special military operation. Almost immediately his unit found itself under attack. He told me his face was covered in blood. In another incident, Sergey says he had to overtake comrades trapped inside a burning vehicle in front of him. The beach, just north of Odessa in southern Ukraine, was defended with mines and anti-tank hedgehogs. Mr. Putin had resisted ordering a mobilization for months, but his decision underscored the Kremlin's struggles on the battlefield, where more than 80,000 Russian soldiers have been killed or . Some troops are refusing orders, walking away from military bases or crossing the border into Ukraine and switching sides, media reports show. "Those refusing to fight are doing so because they've had more than their fair share of front line action," explains Elena Popova. But there's a more common explanation. Because they ignore everything. 'I'd rather go to jail than fight in Ukraine', Surgeons operate on baby in Kyiv blackout, Station master arrested after dozens killed in Greece train crash, Covid origin likely China lab incident - FBI chief, Ukraine war casts shadow over India's G20 ambitions, Blackpink lead top stars back on the road in Asia, 'Wales is in England' gaffe sparks TikToker's trip, India anti-corruption crusader fighting to clear his name, Record numbers of guide dog volunteers after BBC story. July 20, 2022 16:08 GMT. Then I got a text message saying he and four other officers had been put in a basement. CNN's Frederik Pleitgen reports on the conflictin Ukraine as Russian President Vladimir Putin touts success, yet some ofhis soldiers refuse to fight. But that means that - while his letter of refusal to fight was accepted - there are no guarantees he won't be sent back to Ukraine during his service period. They just don't care. Not only are they clueless, but they're simply refusing to fight, Scherba, who is currently in western Ukraine, tells co-host Molly-Jong-Fast. The Russian authorities dismiss reports of disillusioned soldiers and detention centres as fake news. Hundreds were discharged after refusing to take part in the invasion, the Guardian previously reported. The troops are getting exhausted they wont be able to keep this up for a long period.. 2023 NYP Holdings, Inc. All Rights Reserved, When disinfo specialists lie, Gray Ladys DeSantis frustration and other commentary, Putins former spin doctor-turned-critic dead, Ukraines northeastern front could decide new battle lines, Biden needs to step up military aid for Ukraine fast. Emilio Morenatti. Read also: UK intelligence estimates Russian losses near Vuhledar. The whole time, not a single document was provided that would explain our arrest. Stas told his father about one particular battle. Some Russian troops are refusing to return to fight in Ukraine because of their experiences on the front line at the start of the invasion, according to Russian human rights lawyers and activists. Here's what he saw, CNN reporter returns to Russia for first time since January, Kremlin to showcase its military power in May 9th parade. Among them were 12 national guardsmen from Russia's . Eventually his efforts paid off. The men, who belonged to the key headquarters of the Pskov . He and several others who'd decided to refuse had their guns taken off them and were put under armed guard.". CNN in Russia 10 videos. 1 min read. Sergey was told that returning to the unit was important because simply leaving could be interpreted as desertion, which can result in a two-year sentence in a disciplinary battalion. In October, a new general was appointed to lead Russia's offensive. 2023 Cable News Network. There are reports of mobilised Russian troops locked in cellars and basements for refusing to fight in Ukraine. Law enforcement located the man, Marsel Kandarov, in September, the statement added. Without a formal . "I think that [so many of] our guys died largely because of this. Now, at least four want their superiors punished for the seemingly illegal arrests, according to the newspaper. Troops from the Russian so-called Cossack Detachment are refusing to take part in offensive operations due to Russian forces heavy losses near Vuhledar in Donetsk Oblast. Stas was sent back to Russia. There are no legal grounds to start a criminal case if a soldier refuses to fight while on Russian territory.. I have nothing to be ashamed of. This is not our war. Some Russian troops are refusing to return to fight in Ukraine because of their experiences on the front line at the start of the invasion, according to Russian human rights lawyers and activists. But significant damage has been done to that army, which has confronted logistical problems, poor morale and an underestimated Ukrainian resistance. "In a situation when there is shelling or bombs falling, all normal people cannot help but react to it, even on the physiological level. And that, unfortunately, life would prove that.". ", "We do not have any problems with soldiers leaving combat positions," the Kremlin leader continued. They forgot their military oaths, the ceremonial promise, their vows of duty to their Fatherland, the board reads. Russian troops release video as they say they will not fight. We've changed them to protect their identities. Russia lacks sufficient ground units with contract soldiers for a sustainable rotation. 'I Had To Refuse So I Could Stay Alive' The servicemen were reportedly removed from their unit as punishment. An investigation by the BBCs Russian service showed that Russias defence ministry filled employment websites with vacancies, offering people with no combat experience opportunities to join the army on lucrative short-term contracts. Reports of Russian soldiers refusing to fight in Ukraine are also mounting. Troops from the Russian so-called Cossack Detachment are refusing to take part in offensive operations due to Russian forces' heavy losses near Vuhledar in Donetsk Oblast. Second, the conduct of the war by Russian forces violates the most . Although Sergey does not want to return to the front line, he does want to complete his outstanding military service in Russia to avoid any unforeseen consequences. Earlier Ukraines General Staff reported that invading Russian forces were seeing mass desertion among its troops amid Ukrainian military successes. Once again, we have changed their names. Jan 27, 2023. He gets it now. Like us on Facebook to see similar stories . A Russian soldier has been sentenced for refusing to fight in the war in Ukraine. For four and a half months, Corporal Ilya Kaminsky and his fellow soldiers from the 11th Separate Air Assault Brigade have waged war as part of the grinding Russian military offensive that has slowly pushed Ukrainian troops back in eastern Ukraine. It's absurd. Artillery sentry duty? The soldier, identified by the alias Vladimir, testified he was held in the town of Bryansk with about 80 soldiers guarded by the shadowy organization Wagner Group. "I don't want to go [back to Ukraine] to kill and be killed," says Sergey - not his real name - who spent five weeks fighting in Ukraine earlier this year. The range of experience varies. They would be looking at time in prison.. The code has been copied to your clipboard. Deployed to Ukraine in July, Andrei was placed in detention for refusing to carry out orders. The soldier, not wanting to take part in a special military operation, did not report for duty in May 2022, said the press service on Thursday for courts in the region of Bashkortostan in the southern Urals. President Vladimir Putin promised that only professional soldiers would take part in his "special military operation.". The refusenik troops add to Russian commanders headaches as they struggle to replenish spent and exhausted units across the roughly 480-kilometer (300-mile) front line stretching from east of Kharkiv in the northeast down to Kherson in south-central Ukraine. Many of us simply did not want to go back, said Dmitri, a member of the unit who asked not to be identified with his real name. They were continually shelled, he says, both when moving and when parked overnight. According to Kaminsky, the pressure ended up working in part: As of July 16, 50 of the 78 soldiers who had demanded to return to their home base had relented. A Russian soldier has been sentenced for refusing to fight in the war in Ukraine. But analysts say voluntary recruits and mercenary groups are unlikely to lead to a substantial increase in the number of new soldiers, compared with the numbers that a partial or a full-scale mobilisation would bring. A lawyer told Sergey and two like-minded colleagues to return their arms and go back to their unit's headquarters - where they should file a letter explaining that they were "morally and psychologically exhausted" and could not continue fighting in Ukraine. Russian military regulations provide some legal justification and procedures for soldiers who disobey orders, according to Sergei Krivenko, a rights activist -- particularly for those who state they are anti-war, or pacifists. Russia Ukraine War One Year Anniversary Ukrainian troops and their UK military instructors, commemorate lives lost in the Russian invasion of Ukraine during a sunrise commemorative service, at . Early in the war, Kaminsky said, commanders ordered the brigade to defend a line opposite Ukrainian forces that stretched up to 64 kilometers in length (40 miles) about four times what the brigades troop strength could reasonably protect. Id rather bury you on the front line, on the line of defense, than give up my position, he said, describing the sentiments of his commanders. Your effort and contribution in providing this feedback is much Reinforcements failed to arrive and soldiers were poorly equipped for the task of taking a large city. It's not a war of liberation'," the man told the BBC. Army commanders try to intimidate contract soldiers into staying with their units, according to Russian human rights lawyer Alexei Tabalov. Read about our approach to external linking. For that they sent my son to a detention centre. At the beginning of April, Sergey was sent back over the border to a camp on the Russian side. As Russia has faced a surprisingly effective resistance from Ukraine, there have been reports of low soldier morale and chaos among the commanding ranks. "It was a difficult decision for him to take. They don't care about the life of a soldier; whats more important is his position and rank, Kaminsky said. Moscow initially put about 80% of its main ground combat forces 150,000 men into the war in February, according to western officials. The soldier is in the unit, hes not running away anywhere. 17 Russian soldiers were reportedly detained, Russian military unit deployed in the south would not figh, Everyone Practices Cancel Culture | Opinion, Deplatforming Free Speech is Dangerous | Opinion. As they stopped for the evening in an abandoned farm, their commander said: "Well, as you will have worked out by now, this is not a joke. A Russian fleet was said to be preparing to shell port city Odessa and land troops. Ukrainian media claims a "riot" broke out on the warships, based in nearby Crimea.. At the same time, a number of Russian helicopters and drones were flying over Luzanivka beach, preparing for landing.. Frank Gardner looks at what lies ahead as winter arrives in Ukraine. Belarus, a close ally of Russia, has supported its eastern neighbour in the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.Before the start of the offensive, Belarus allowed the Russian Armed Forces to perform weeks-long military drills on its territory; however, the Russian troops did not exit the country after they were supposed to finish. But he stresses that Russian military law does include clauses which allow soldiers to refuse to fight if they don't want to. TASS said the soldier expressed his dissatisfaction with the training of mobilised servicemen outside Moscow. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. If we had moved gradually, if we had checked the roads for mines many losses could have been avoided.". I understood that I had to refuse so I could stay alive, he said. UK intelligence estimates Russian losses near Vuhledar, Russians pushing for breakthrough near Vuhledar, but unlikely to succeed, says UK intelligence, Lori Lightfoot becomes the first Chicago mayor in 40 years to lose re-election, Fiery Greece train collision kills 32, injures at least 85, A condition called POTS rose after covid, but patients can't find care, Drones fly deep inside Russia; Putin orders border tightened, Rep. Lauren Boebert Gets Absolutely Schooled By Jamie Raskin Using Trump's Own Words, Russia redeploys unit of brigade created for war against Chechen Republic of Ichkeria near Vuhledar, Ukrainian Forces Demobilize Russian Tanks Near Frontline Town, Irkutsk conscripts appeal to Putin for third time for being sent to war without training, Multiple Russian Armored Vehicles Destroyed in Single Battle, Ukrainian Brigade Says, The mysterious death of Chechen dictator Ramzan Kadyrovs favorite fighter. Source: Latvia-based Russian media outlet Meduza; united press office of the courts of the Republic of Bashkortostan on Telegram Details: According to court materials, Corporal Marcel Kandarov has been charged with evading military service for more than one month . It's not just Ukrainians resisting Vladimir . Russian authorities quietly stepped up their efforts to recruit new soldiers as it became clear that a quick victory in Ukraine was unattainable. I didnt think I would quit, but it happened because of my wifes difficult pregnancy, when I asked for a delay until after she gave birth, a third soldier told Current Time in a VK message. RFE/RL's Live Briefing gives you all of the latest developments on Russia's ongoing invasion, Kyiv's counteroffensive, Western military aid, global reaction, and the plight of civilians. There are reports of mobilised Russian troops locked in cellars and basements for refusing to fight in Ukraine. I'm shocked by our army. "We do not have any camps or incarceration facilities, or the like [for Russian soldiers]," President Putin insisted earlier this month. A Russian court sentenced a 24-year-old professional soldier to five years in prison for refusing to fight in Ukraine, officials have said. Three days of duty? The prisoners at the penal colony in St. Petersburg were expecting a visit by officials, thinking it would be some sort of inspection. There have been an estimated 140 soldiers put behind bars in eastern Ukraine, with some allegedly guarded by pro-Moscow mercenaries in a military base surrounded by land mines, the Guardian reported. Other units include troops from private military companies like Vagner, or specialized, semiautonomous units overseen by Chechnyas strongman leader, Ramzan Kadyrov. All Rights Reserved. He managed to contact his mother, Oxana, back in Russia to tell her what was going on. He is now home in Russia, having taken legal advice to avoid being sent back to the front line. Independent Russian media have also been reporting hundreds of cases of soldiers refusing repeat deployments to Ukraine since the beginning of April. Just refuse," Sergei recalls telling Stas, who was already an army officer. A Russian military unit deployed in Ukraine's south has refused to fight over a lack of vital supplies such as water, Ukraine said Sunday. Kononov reportedly had taken part in President Vladimir Putin's so-called special military operation in the Eastern European nation but left his military unit without permission for more than 10 days. In . Despite speculation beforehand, Putin did not formally declare war on Ukraine during his Victory Day speech on 9 May. One commander in northern Russia requested a criminal case be brought against his subordinate who would not return to Ukraine, but a military prosecutor refused to proceed, according to documents seen by the BBC. They made him lie on the ground and told him to count to ten. While speaking, he blew cigarette smoke into an officers face, who responded by pushing him away. It said that the troops lacked support, while personnel in advanced positions didn't have water. Alexander Avilov / Moskva News Agency. More than 26,000 Russian military personnel have been killed in . He said the "Russian invasion of Ukraine has triggered the most massive violations of human rights" being witnessed in the world today. ", "My first thoughts were 'Is this really happening to me?'". It is unfair, I am fighting in this war just as the others in Ukraine, risking my life, the soldier said. "The wall of misunderstanding between us has gone. Members of Wagner told the captive soldiers that mines surrounded the military base where they were being held and threatened to shoot anyone trying to escape, the soldier wrote. There is absolutely no trust in the authorities and the higher command, from the very first word, Kaminsky, 20, told Current Time in a phone interview on July 17, recorded from an undisclosed location in the Luhansk region of eastern Ukraine. He says his convoy - travelling through northern Ukraine - broke up after just four days when a bridge they were about to cross exploded, killing comrades ahead of them. And there is no guarantee that more prosecutions might not emerge in the future. The private then pushed the officer in the chest. 2. Moscow's war is unjust, but there's no moral obligation for soldiers to refuse to fight. His unit moved on through the Ukrainian countryside, but there was a clear lack of strategy, he says. The soldier said he broke his contract and resigned from the brigade before the February 24 invasion, once he realized it was in fact going forward. Dmitri's refusal to fight in the war is the latest in a string of reports of Russian soldiers disobeying orders to join the fight.