Ice-cold mud, dung-soaked clothes and the lack of a warming cup of tea.
Russian soldiers testify to how the climate is getting tougher in the field as winter approaches, reports Britain’s Ministry of Defense in a summary.
During a military conference in Moscow recently, Russian soldiers described the poor living conditions they have had during the fighting against Ukraine. The writes the UK Ministry of Defence in a summary of current intelligence information on X.
Among other things, the soldiers are said to have been “wet from head to toe” for weeks on end at the front line and to have eaten “monotonous food” in very muddy conditions.
The soldiers also reportedly said they could not even make a warming cup of tea, as the fire from a campfire could risk exposing them to Ukrainian forces.
The UK Ministry of Defense also writes that it is challenging for all armies right now to “maintain a decent level of personal comfort in defensive positions”.
Much indicates a very poor level of basic field administration among Russian forces. According to the department, it is likely that it is partly caused by a lack of motivating commanders and varying logistical support.
“Deadlock”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi said on Sunday he was “not ready” for talks with Russia unless its troops withdraw from his country, denying that Western officials had suggested peace talks be held.
The frontline between the two warring sides has barely moved for nearly a year, despite Ukraine launching a counteroffensive in June to retake Russian-occupied territory.
– On the front line, it’s no secret, we have no air defense. This is why Russia controls the airspace. If they control the entire sky, until the moment we get an air defense, we cannot move forward quickly, the Ukrainian leader said in an interview with NBC’s Meet the Press.
The sides appeared to have reached something akin to a technical stalemate, Ukraine’s commander-in-chief Valery Zaluzhny told The Economist.
– What Ukraine needs are hundreds of new systems, tanks, fighter planes and ammunition, Lieutenant Colonel Paasikivi told TV4 Nyheterna on Saturday.
Zelenskyy has been meeting regularly with European leaders to try to secure more air defenses and prevent the conflict, which has now lasted more than 600 days, from exhausting itself.