Russia sends 'volunteer corps' to war in Ukraine with increasing frequency - UK intelligence

The UK Defense Ministry reports.

It is noted that in February 2023, the Russian MoD created a Volunteer Corps that united more than 20,000 volunteers, reservists, mercenaries and ex-convicts serving in numerous irregular units under a single management structure.

According to intelligence reports, since then, Russia has increasingly begun to involve irregular forces in offensive operations. Such formations are mostly light infantry units that do not have integrated artillery or air support, which makes them more brittle than Russian regular forces.

“Consequently, during the last 9 months, Russian irregular units have likely sustained proportionally higher casualty rates than Russian regular units,” intelligence officials believe.

• Over the past day, the invading Russian army lost 1,250 soldiers in the war in Ukraine. Ukrainian forces also destroyed 48 artillery systems and 8 tanks.