The Russian military is executing soldiers who do not follow orders related to the war in Ukraine, said the white house, describing the practice as “barbaric.”
According to VOA news, Truthlive news learnt that the White House National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby made this known during a press conference, stating “We have information that the Russian military has been actually executing soldiers who refuse to follow orders.”
He added, “We also have information that Russian commanders are threatening to execute entire units if they seek to retreat from Ukrainian artillery fire.
“Some of the recent casualties of Russian soldiers near the Ukrainian town of Avdiivka were on the orders of their own leaders.”
Since mid-October, Ukrainian and Russian troops have been engaged in fierce fighting for control of the town of Avdiivka, located on the front line in Ukraine’s Donetsk region.
According to the Ukrainian military, Russian forces have suffered heavy casualties during the battle, with an estimated 5,000 Russian troops killed or wounded in the fighting.
The town has suffered extensive damage from Russian bombing, with much of the infrastructure destroyed and many buildings reduced to rubble.
Kirby noted that Russia’s mobilized forces appear to suffer from a lack of training, equipment, preparedness, leadership, and support, echoing the conditions seen in their unsuccessful winter offensive from the previous year.
He also mentioned that Russia seems to be employing “human wave” tactics.
Meanwhile, the United States announced Thursday that it will be providing Ukraine with an additional $150 million military assistance package. The package will include artillery and small-arms ammunition as well as anti-tank weapons.