Russian soldiers on patrol in Ukraine. (Image: Getty)
A Ukrainian intelligence officer has revealed that Russian soldiers are “desperate” to ditch their units, painting a picture of collapsing morale in army.
Ivan signed up to fight the Russians weeks after launched his full-scale invasion of in February 2022.
He has seen action all along the frontlines, including in the and Zaporozhzhia regions and the Donbas.
The 34-year-old Ukrainian was eventually injured in Bakhmut towards the end of February 2023 after standing on a mine.
Ten months after losing his leg, he was reassigned to work in military intelligence, where part of his work involved interrogating Russian prisoners.
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A Ukrainian tanks fires at Russian positions. (Image: General Staff Ukraine Army)
In an interview with the Express, Ivan gave a detailed insight into the modus operandi of army and the psychology of its soldiers.
He described as being completely brainwashed by Kremlin propaganda, with many believing they are fighting a heroic war against the Nazis.
“They are so f***ing messed up. I can’t lay it out to you because there is no logic to it,” he explained.
“It’s like, ‘ is great, we won the Second World War, that’s why we have to protect Ukrainians from the Nazis till we die’.
“It doesn’t hold together; there is no ideology that’s coherent.”
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When the recruits realise the true situation and understand they are to be used as cannon fodder, their attitude quickly changes to one of trying to survive at all costs.
“When you see private communications between the , half of it is how not to get there, to hot points of the front because they know it’s a one-way ticket,” Ivan said.
“Or how to ditch the service altogether. It’s very rarely that like ‘we are patriotic and let’s go fight’ or something. It’s all ‘how can we get out of this.'”
The Ukrainian intelligence officer said had no regard for the lives of their soldiers and used what he described as “desperate” tactics.
He gave an example of a Russian attempt to storm , a strategic city in the Donetsk region, which has seen months of fierce fighting.
Currently still under Ukrainian control, the city’s capture is a key Russian military objective and is coming under intense, sustained attacks.
Russian forces have laid siege to Chasiv Yar and razed it to the ground. (Image: Getty)
In one assault, a laid down a smoke screen to allow an armoured vehicle that resembled a Hummer SUV to enter the city’s outskirts.
“It made its way inside the city, inside the perimeter that we are holding and it’s actually moving towards the centre, but all the buildings are our positions,” Ivan explained.
“We have complete control there, and we follow it with the drone, and it stops in the middle while 12 guys get out and try to hide in a basement.
“But our soldiers are above them, and they take the 12 prisoner.”
He added: “Can you imagine getting 12 guys into a vehicle that’s meant for four in full gear and sending them out like that? We were like ‘what the f*** were you doing?’
“One of them didn’t want to surrender. He tried to pull a grenade, but they stopped him.”
The intelligence officer then said the Russian soldier took his own life.
Ivan remains optimistic that can prevail and stop the Russians, despite momentum being firmly with Putin’s army as it advances across Donetsk.
However, for that to happen, the West must make good on its promises to deliver military aid.
“If we would get a good push in weapons and training, we stand a really good chance,” he said.
“For us here, the only thing that’s right in any situation is to keep fighting. And sooner or later, it will end, one way or the other.”