Lost 800,000: Russian "Battalion on crutches" becomes an easy target of the Armed Forces - Forbes

The Kremlin tries to create fresh units. For example, in the 20th All-Military Army formed assault groups consisting of the wounded, including those who move with the help of crutches. Despite the loss of more than 800,000 soldiers killed and wounded over the first three years of a full -scale war in Ukraine, the Russian military can still support at least 600,000 soldiers in Ukraine and western Russia.

This gives the Russian field armies an advantage in live power in all the most important sectors. Forbes writes about it. The Kremlin tries to create fresh units. For example, in the 20th All-Military Army formed assault groups consisting of the wounded, including those who move with the help of crutches. They were sent into battle with predictably tragic consequences. A few months ago, there were rumors that some Russian commanders gave orders to the wounded to return to the system.

Perhaps the first clear proof of the existence of "battalions on crutches" appeared on social networks last week. The Ukrainian drone discovered a Russian assault group that limped to a position for the attack of Ukrainian forces around Pokrovsk. The drones quickly deal with the assault with the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation. The fact that at first seemed like a foolish mate of lives, perhaps on the order of one cruel commander, is now a systemic phenomenon.

The other day, a Russian soldier from the 20th Army recorded a video on which the wounded was collected for storming in the forests, apparently, near Pokrovsk. The emergence of such "battalions" is not entirely consistent with the huge forces of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation in Ukraine. But, apparently, out of 600,000 Russian soldiers, not all are suitable for battle.

The burden on the Kremlin personnel system is increasing as the expansion of the Ukrainian Corps of drones and the loss of 15,000 combat vehicles forces the commanders to protect their modern tanks and combat vehicles and instead send infantry often without support. Separate soldiers, dispersed in crossed areas, are more complex goals for ubiquitous Ukrainian drones than mechanized groups with tanks and combat vehicles.

The daily loss of Russians increased sharply after the Russian military doctrine has evolved towards infantry, not equipment, journalists say. According to General Alexander Sirsky, in 2024, Russia lost 434,000 people, including 150,000 killed. That is, more than in the previous two years combined. "People are a renewable resource, but not easily and not easy.