According to British intelligence experts, the intense fighting in Donbass is affecting the morale of troops on both sides in the Ukrainian war. “Ukrainian forces have likely suffered defections in recent weeks, but Russian morale in particular will likely continue to be plagued by problems,” the Defense Ministry’s daily intelligence update on the Ukraine war in London said.
Since the Russian attack on Ukraine began about four months ago, there have been repeated reports of Russian soldiers defecting. “There continue to be cases of entire Russian units refusing to obey orders, and armed clashes between officers and soldiers continue,” the statement continued.
Bad leadership, heavy casualties
Reasons for low Russian morale are, among other things, leadership that is perceived as poor, limited opportunities for relief from the front, very heavy losses, stress, poor logistics and payment problems.
According to the British, both sides have continued their heavy artillery bombardment along the northern, eastern and southern axes of the Sievarodonetsk pocket in the east of the country in recent days. But the front line has barely changed.
Since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, the British government has regularly published intelligence information about the course of the war. Moscow accuses London of a targeted disinformation campaign.