Signs of low morale as Russian troops ‘refuse orders’

MOSCOW is unable to legally reprimand troops that refuse orders because it has failed to declare war in Ukraine, the UK’S Ministry of Defence has said.

In its latest intelligence update on the situation, the MOD said that instances of whole Russian units refusing orders and armed stand-offs between officers and their troops are continuing.

“The authorities likely struggle to bring legal pressure to bear on military dissenters, hampered by the invasion’s official status as a ‘special military operation’ rather than as a war,” it said.

The ministry added that reasons for low morale among Russian troops include: “perceived poor leadership, limited opportunity for rotation of units out of combat, very heavy casualties, combat stress, continued poor logistics and problems with pay”.

It said that many Russian personnel likely “remain confused” about the objectives of the war.

In March, recordings of frontline Russian soldiers obtained by a British intelligence company, indicated that troops were refusing to obey central command orders, including to shell Ukrainian towns, while complaining bitterly about running out of supplies of food or fuel.