When Vladimir Putin’s war in Ukraine began, it was assumed that the larger and more well-funded Russian army would prevail in a short amount of time, and that Ukraine would be at their mercy, forced to accept Russian rule. That isn’t exactly how things are working out.
Putin hit by ANOTHER mutiny as ‘60 elite paratroopers refuse to fight in Ukraine after comrades were wiped out’
The refusenik troops were sent in disgrace back to their base in Pskov.#MOG https://t.co/92ENWk1WUm
— Michael O'Grady (@mog7546) April 7, 2022
On Thursday, another mutiny reportedly occurred in Ukraine, with what is reportedly a group of 60 paratroopers refusing to continue fighting after seeing Ukrainian soldiers fight back against the Russian military and “wipe out” a number of their fellow soldiers.
‘About 60 servicemen from Pskov refused to go to war on Ukrainian territory, according to our sources. After the first days of the war, they were first brought to the Republic of Belarus, and then they returned to their base in Pskov. Most of them are currently being dismissed, but some are threatened with criminal case.’
A Russian soldier from Pskov, Vladimir Safronov, 23, told his Ukrainian interrogators about problems with rations, and how his officers were looting the civilian population.
He said: "Things are bad with food, we are constantly saving it. https://t.co/Tsi6nfiEBo
— Jack Sussek (@JackSussek) April 7, 2022
The group faces serious consequences, with Putin ordering a quick trial for them all. A number of them have been dismissed and branded “cowards,” but the punishments they face could be severe.
British reporting outlet Express writes that:
‘So embarrassing is the mutiny, Putin has instructed his Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu to send one of his most senior officers to Pskov to handle the court-martial proceedings in person.’
This is not the first report of a mutiny on the part of the Russian military thanks to brutal conditions and the surprising ability of Ukrainian fighters to defend their country. Captive Russian soldier from Pskov, Vladimir Safronov, 23, told his captors that things are “very bad with food,” with soldiers from Russia forced to eat only what they can loot from the homes of Ukrainian civilians.
The Daily Mail reports him as saying:
‘There is a lot of looting, I’ve personally seen it. I don’t support it, it was mainly senior sergeants and the commander who did it. I saw civilians who were hiding, people who were unable to evacuate, who lived in constant fear. I felt awfully sorry for them, it was scary to find them.’
