Up to 200,000 Russian soldiers are reported to have died in the war in Ukraine. The majority have died in battle – more have died from alcohol, crime and accidents, writes the British Ministry of Defense on Twitter. – There are problems with weapon handling, dangerous shots and other things. There are film clips of two drunken Russians about to throw a hand grenade – and it bounces off a tree back at them, says Joakim Paasikivi, lieutenant colonel. 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. “Pure drunken accidents” The Ministry 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 several examples of pure drunken accidents, It also affects morale and general judgement. General cooling down and lack of judgment make you fight worse, so it in turn creates battle injuries and deaths. There are a whole range of consequences from this lack of morals and abuse, says Joakim Paasikivi. “Not very experienced or skilled” Many indications are 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. – They can’t maintain discipline, that’s what happens in an ill-motivated mass army with a lack of command. The Russian professional army was very badly used during the first half of the year and that is why they mobilised, says Joakim Paasikivi and continues: – What we see now is the mobilized army and many of the managers who are there are also mobilized and therefore not particularly experienced or skilled . See Paasikivi’s analysis in the player above.
t4-general
New report: Scores of Russian soldiers have died from alcohol
