Espreso. Global

Russia forms assault units from wounded soldiers — UK intel

2 February, 2025 Sunday
14:31

British intelligence has analyzed a troubling trend in the Russian army related to the return of wounded servicemen to combat in Ukraine

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The British Ministry of Defence reported the information.

"It is highly likely that injured Russian personnel are being returned to combat duties in Ukraine with unhealed wounds, often on crutches. Open-source reporting suggests Russia’s 20th Combined Arms Army has formed assault groups made up of walking wounded and directed them into combat," the report stated.

Intelligence emphasized that Russian command may be directing these actions to preserve personnel who would otherwise become lost in an overburdened medical system.

According to the Ukrainian General Staff, since February 2022, Russia has suffered approximately 830,000 casualties, of which likely over 400,000 required hospital treatment away from the frontline.

The report suggests that wounded soldiers are likely returning to their units after being prematurely discharged from medical facilities under pressure from their commanders.

"This reduces the pressure on the overburdened military medical system and increases unit’s ability to track and use wounded servicemen for operational tasks. The lack of proper medical attention in facilities away from the frontline necessitates the transfer of the administrative and medical burden back to troops’ units," intelligence explained.

  • In the past day, Ukrainian Defense Forces eliminated 1,320 Russian servicemen along the Russian-Ukrainian front. Since the start of the full-scale invasion, the occupying Russian army has lost over 840,000 soldiers.
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