In a stark sign of Russia’s dire situation on the battlefield, British officials have revealed that Vladimir Putin is sending injured soldiers back to the frontlines in Ukraine, often “on crutches” and with unhealed wounds. This shocking practice comes as Russia continues to suffer heavy casualties in its nearly three-year-long war, with its armed forces losing hundreds of thousands of troops.
According to the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD), it is “highly likely” that injured Russian soldiers are being prematurely sent back to combat to help alleviate the pressure on the country’s overwhelmed medical system. The MoD’s latest update on social media pointed to reports that Russia’s 20th Combined Arms Army, a key unit, has even formed assault groups made up of walking wounded, directing them back into battle.
This alarming tactic is being used as Russia’s casualty count grows ever higher. The Ukrainian General Staff estimates that since Putin’s invasion, over 830,000 Russian soldiers have been injured or killed. Many of those who survived have been treated in medical facilities away from the frontline, with more than 400,000 requiring such care since February 2022. Yet, the MoD notes that these injured troops are being sent back to their units far too soon, often because commanders are desperate to maintain personnel numbers.
It appears Putin is willing to send soldiers back to the frontlines even before they’re fully healed, as long as they can still walk, in an effort to shore up his ranks and continue his aggressive push for more of Ukraine’s territory. This desperate move comes as Russia has struggled to replenish its forces, despite efforts to build up its military strength. The Russian president has long made it clear that he wants to create the world’s second-largest army, second only to China, with 1.5 million active personnel. However, the ongoing war has decimated those ranks, leading to these extreme measures to keep up with the losses.
As the war drags on, Russia is also facing international pressure, with US President Donald Trump calling for peace talks and pushing for a deal between the warring nations. But Putin has been adamant that peace will only come if the “realities on the ground” are recognised, meaning he wants the territories he has seized in Ukraine to be officially recognised as part of Russia.
The UK’s latest revelations highlight the lengths to which Russia is going to hold onto its military power, even at the cost of its own soldiers’ health and well-being. These “meat-grinder” tactics, as UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer once called them, continue to take a heavy toll on both sides of the conflict, with little sign of a resolution in sight.
