"Russian New Recruits Deployed to Ukraine Without Training, Killed in Action... Equipment Also Purchased Independently"

Shortage of Instructors... Deployed to Combat Without Training
No Ammunition or Equipment... Even Combat Boots Must Be Purchased

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] Recently, Russia, cornered on the Ukrainian front, has conscripted more than 200,000 new recruits under a partial mobilization order. However, due to a shortage of instructors, many recruits have been sent into combat without training and have been killed in action. It has also been pointed out that the recruits have not received proper supply support and have been forced to purchase essential items such as combat boots and bulletproof vests at their own expense.

According to the New York Times (NYT) on the 16th (local time), some of the recruits called up under the Russian government's partial mobilization order were deployed to the eastern front of Ukraine just 11 days after being mobilized, with some reportedly killed in action. Citing Russian experts, the NYT reported that there is a shortage of instructors to train recruits, and some are being sent to the front lines without firearms training.

Authorities in Chelyabinsk, central Russia, announced on the 13th that many recruits from the region who were deployed to the front lines without military training had died. Five recruits were sent to the eastern front of Ukraine and died. Although the Russian government has conscripted more than 200,000 people since the mobilization order was declared, it is known that very few have received proper training.

Furthermore, due to a shortage of supplies, most recruits reportedly did not receive combat equipment. The NYT reported that recruits have had to bear the cost of combat boots, bulletproof vests, backpacks, medical supplies, and food themselves. William Alberque, a researcher at the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) and a Russian military expert, pointed out, "At best, they are given the basics, and in the worst cases, recruits are sent into combat with nothing. The recruits are literally cannon fodder."

There is also analysis that the Russian army, which is being pushed back by Ukrainian forces on major fronts, does not have the time to train recruits. Johan Norberg, a Russian analyst at the Swedish Defence Research Agency, said, "Russia is at a crossroads," adding, "Russia must choose between taking the time to properly train soldiers and accepting defeat in battles in the meantime, or immediately deploying low-quality recruits to combat as needed."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.