Reports suggest that Russia is deploying injured soldiers to the battlefield as it continues to sustain significant losses in the war, which is set to enter its fourth year next month.
A video shared on social media by a Ukrainian soldier reportedly shows injured Russian troops—some using crutches—advancing across a barren field near Novotroitske in the Donetsk region before being targeted by Ukranian drones.
Ukrainian soldiers reported a week ago that Russian forces have been conducting assaults whilst using crutches.
This has now been confirmed with video of the “assault” in question.
🎥: @lucky__soldier https://t.co/locwKfevcR pic.twitter.com/XRrTaUrU2h
— Jimmy Rushton (@JimmySecUK) January 18, 2025
Another video shared on social media recently shows a Russian service member reportedly from the 1660 “Prikamye” Battalion (Unit 69448) of the 20th Guards Combined Arms Army being redeployed to the front lines after only suffering wounds three days prior in Ukraine. Another soldier reportedly suffered an epileptic seizure before being deployed.
Elite Russian soldiers of the 20th Army, some on crutches, are heading out to carry out a combat mission. One of the special forces operatives even suffered an epileptic seizure. pic.twitter.com/63rsvZCc6M
— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated) January 21, 2025
Russian military personnel have previously issued numerous appeals, claiming that their commanders are compelling them to fight despite injuries and exhaustion.
The Russians from military unit 55115, 4th motorized rifle battalion, 11th motorized rifle regiment recorded an appeal:
“We are all three-hundredths [wounded] here.
They threw us out of the hospital without having fully recovered.
They don’t give a damn about anything.
We are… pic.twitter.com/F46vpkT510
— PS01 □ (@PStyle0ne1) January 19, 2025
Analysts suggest that the deployment of medically unfit soldiers reflects a growing manpower crisis within the Russian military.
According to General Oleksandr Syrskyi, Commander-in-Chief of Ukraine’s Armed Forces, Russia suffered 434,000 casualties in 2024 alone, including 150,000 deaths.These figures surpass Russian losses from the first two years of the war combined.
By comparison, Ukraine reports total losses since February 2022 at 413,000, including 43,000 killed.
