Russian troops’ morale collapsing as Ukraine ‘wipes the floor with them’, military expert claims
UKRAINE is “humiliating” Russia on the battlefield and “wiping the floor with them in terms of world opinion”, a UK military expert said yesterday.
Professor Michael Clarke, former director of the Royal United Services Institute think tank, said: “The Russians are making almost every tactical mistake it is possible to make.”
It came as five paras from the 331st Guards Parachute Assault Regiment — considered the toughest in the Russian military — were killed, including one of Vladimir Putin’s top commanders.
Morale among his troops has collapsed with some now shooting themselves to avoid being sent to the front line.
Putin is becoming so desperate he is recruiting mercenaries and private contractors to boost his depleted forces.
Prof Clarke said: “The Ukrainians are stalling the Russian advance in all areas and operating quite effective counter attacks. The Russians are losing a lot of equipment and troops.”
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Ukraine said around 14,200 Russian soldiers have been killed, with 450 tanks, 1,450 other armoured combat vehicles, 93 aircraft and 112 helicopters destroyed.
Among the latest high profile losses was 331st Guards Colonel Sergei Sukharev, of Kostroma.
His death was confirmed by state TV.
His deputy, Major Sergei Krylov, was killed alongside him, together with three other members of the elite force.
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Russian soldiers are now so desperate to avoid taking part in the conflict they have taken to shooting themselves in the leg.
In one intercepted conversation, a Russian said: “They’ve been shooting at us for 14 days.
";We’re scared. We’re stealing food, breaking into houses.
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“Officers shoot themselves in the legs to go home. There are corpses everywhere.”
Another said troops “look for Ukrainian ammunition to shoot themselves in the legs and go to hospital”.
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