Heavy alcohol consumption is common in Russian society and is quietly seen as an accepted part of military life, even during combat, the Ministry of Defense writes.
Other non-combat causes of death include mishandling of weapons, traffic accidents and frostbite.
The Department of Defense in Great Britain refers to a report on the Telegram news channel. The report addresses a “very high number” of incidents where Russian soldiers died from causes that could be linked to alcohol.
There are many indications that Russia will soon replace Valery Gerasimov who is the supreme commander of the invasion forces in Ukraine, writes the American think tank Institute for the study of war (ISW). According to ISW, Gerasimov has failed to achieve the Russian goal: to take Donetsk and Luhansk before the end of March.
In January, Gerasimov replaced Sergei Surovikin as commander in Ukraine. Surovikin only had four months in the post.