Troops sent to Ukraine to support Russian forces say they have no choice but to leave because the Russian army is in ruins and “they lied to us every step of the way.”
Soldiers from the breakaway state of South Ossetia – speaking to South Ossetian leader Anatoly Bibilov at a meeting announced by the independent media – shook up a list of complaints about defective equipment, lack of leadership and information and mindless tactics.
South Ossetia, which relies heavily on military and financial aid from Russia, sent troops to Ukraine in late March to “protect Russia.” The Ukrainian military said at the time that about 150 South Ossetian troops were uniting with Russia, but Tskhinvali never gave any official figures.
Many of the soldiers are said to be part of Russian troops based in South Ossetia; Moscow and Tskhinvali signed a deal in 2017 to partially include their armed forces.
But reports soon surfaced that many were refusing to take part in the battle, promising not to become “cannon fodder.”
“Nobody was scared here, they just lied to us every step of the way,” said one of Bibilov’s soldiers about his decision to give up the fight.
“From the 11 days [that we were there,] I wouldn’t even wish the enemy what happened there. All the equipment did not work, I’m telling you … There was no command staff, “said another soldier of the South Ossetian leader.
Of the 10 tanks, the first soldier said, only three fired. “The artillery mortar of the mortars did not work, the legs were crooked,” he said.
“There was no command. And if the officers didn’t know what to do, what was the sergeant doing there? another soldier was quoted.
He said “99 percent of the equipment” in another unit didn’t even work, but when troops warned the senior commander that their vehicles were not working and their weapons were “not firing,” he shrugged and said, “Just go.”
In another case, troops complained that their commander “disappeared” every time a battle broke out.
“He was afraid of his own people. He made a security team of several boys. The commander refused to go out and talk to his own boys and said he would be beaten, “said one soldier.
In the end, “some special forces boys [special forces]”He really beat him up and left his face covered in blood,” he said.
They said Russian troops had never had contingency plans or escape routes. Another soldier said one of his wounded comrades in Russian-occupied Donetsk was not receiving medical treatment.
“He says he was bandaged the first day, but there are still shrapnel in it. He says his arm is very swollen and no one is doing anything, the doctors don’t even come to see him. He has been there for five days, and his doctors only want money, “he said.
After hearing the soldiers paint a picture of such complete dysfunction, Bibilov asked the men directly if they believed Russia would lose the war.
One soldier said, “Yes, we believe they will lose.”
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