Secret audio intercepts from Ukraine's front lines expose a rising desire among Russian soldiers to exit the conflict, as revealed in recordings obtained by The Associated Press.
Speaking in coded language like
'200s' for dead and '300s' for wounded, soldiers increasingly mention '500s'—
those refusing to fight. These recordings provide a rare glimpse into the war
from the Russian perspective, often suppressed due to Moscow's restrictions on honest
discourse about the conflict.
The calls illuminate the
evolution of the war, from professional soldiers initiating Putin's invasion to
civilians compelled into grueling service."
In candid conversations,
soldiers lament the brutal reality of the conflict, with one expressing,
"There’s no f------ ‘dying the death of the brave’ here. You just die like
a f------ earthworm." The intercepted calls, spanning regions like
Kharkiv, Luhansk, and Donetsk, convey the toll of the war on individuals from
diverse backgrounds, contradicting the initial narrative of a cohesive and
motivated force.
Despite efforts to attract
recruits through military contracts, the specter of additional mobilization
persists. Moscow's annual autumn conscription draft brought in 130,000 young
men in October. While officials assert these conscripts won't be sent to Ukraine,
the reality of automatic transition to reservist status after a year of service
raises concerns about potential future mobilizations.
The AP validated the identities
of the soldiers in the calls through discussions with relatives and soldiers
still engaged in the conflict. Research into open-source materials linked to
the soldiers' phone numbers further corroborated their authenticity. The voices
in these calls reflect a cross-section of men compelled by various circumstances,
including financial struggles, limited education, and a sense of patriotic
duty.
While the representativeness of
these calls within Russia's armed forces is uncertain, their desperation aligns
with a notable increase in legal cases against soldiers refusing to fight. This
suggests a broader undercurrent of discontent within the military, challenging
the narrative of a united and unwavering force."
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