Putin to use aging retired soldiers to replenish his forces in echo of desperate Hitler after almost 20,000 wiped out

DESPERATE Vladimir Putin plans to recruit aging retired soldiers to replenish his forces after almost 20,000 troops were wiped out in Ukraine.

British intelligence claims the tactic will be used in an effort to generate more fighting power in response to mounting losses in the face of heroic Ukrainian defenders.

The move was outlined by the UK's Ministry of Defence in its latest intelligence update on Sunday.

It said: “In response to mounting losses, the Russian armed forces seek to bolster troop numbers with personnel discharged from military service since 2012.

“Efforts to generate more fighting power also include trying to recruit from the unrecognized Transnistria region of Moldova."

The new recruits could be more than 60-years-old with Federal Law capping the ages of Russian Military personnel, reported.

Under the provisions, lieutenants in military rank and soldiers must be younger than 50, colonels and captains of the 1st rank under 55 and vice admirals and major generals must be under 60.

Recruitment of soldiers who retired in 2012 due to their age could mean they are several years over 60.

The approach echoes similar tactics taken by Adolf Hitler's Nazi Party who, under orders, constructed the so-called "Volkssturm" of civilian forces during the last months of World War II.

It was comprised of German men aged between 16 and 60 who were not already serving in the military.

A number of district units were set up around Germany, staffed by members of the Hitler Youth, elderly, or men who had previously been considered unfit for military service.

"Big battles" are expected to take place in Donbas where Russian troops were repositioned after failing to capture Kyiv.

Mykhaylo Podolyak, an adviser to Ukraine's President Zelensky, said: “Ukraine must win and once that happens, Ukraine will have a more powerful negotiating position”. 

It comes as Bodies of dead Russian troops abandoned by their comrades were found in eastern Ukraine, in the latest sign that Russia's chaotic invasion is in disarray.

Video from the site of a destroyed armoured personnel carrier shows frying pans, drills, and even children's toys apparently looted by Putin's soldiers.

The troops were allegedly ambushed in Sumy, northeastern Ukraine, close to the Russian border.

The Kremlin’s chief spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, acknowledged Russia's army had suffered “significant losses”, which he labelled “a tragedy for us”.