Kathrine Frich
War has never been free of fear or hesitation, and armies through history have seen soldiers walk away when the cost becomes too great.
New evidence from eastern Ukraine suggests that this pattern is unfolding again inside Russian ranks.
A fresh audio intercept released by Ukraine’s military intelligence shows a breakdown in discipline as Russian units face mounting losses on the Donetsk front.
Mounting frustration
According to Ukraine’s Military Intelligence Service (HUR), the recording was published on Tuesday, November 26 and reported by Kyiv Post.
In it, a Russian commander tells his superior that his soldiers have abandoned their forward positions and are retreating.
The senior officer erupts in fury. “Where the hell are they going, where the hell are they going? I’m going to turn off their radios right now, damn it, get their asses back to the front line,” he shouts in Russian.
HUR says the tone of the exchange indicates the unit has been stuck without progress for days.
The superior then threatens to classify the entire group as deserters.
Breaking ranks
His anger intensifies as he cites repeated failures.
“And then, damn it! You damned deserters, forward! Move! Yesterday they couldn’t capture a surveillance post, and now they can’t even get past that damned tree line,” he yells, according to Kyiv Post.
Ukrainian intelligence says the intercept aligns with a growing pattern of Russian troops refusing orders for high-risk assaults.
HUR argues that many of these missions involve little preparation and predictably high casualties.
The agency says morale among Russian forces engaged in these attacks is falling quickly.
Seeking a way out
In the same update, HUR again pointed Russian soldiers to the “I Want to Live” program, a Telegram-based hotline that provides instructions for those who want to surrender safely.
The initiative offers guidance and assurances for servicemen attempting to lay down their weapons.
Other recent intercepts published by Ukrainian intelligence describe worsening conditions in Russian units, including shortages of essentials and reports of non-combat staff, such as cooks, being pushed into infantry roles.
HUR says these accounts reflect a military under severe strain.
Sources: Kyiv Post, Digi24, HUR
