Russian soldiers are ‘crying in combat’ and ‘operating in complete disarray’, radio messages from the Ukraine frontline reportedly suggest.
Intercepted recordings obtained by UK intelligence company ShadowBreak are said to have captured frustrated troops firing shots at each other.
One tearful soldier pleads with his commander over food shortages, while another refuses an order to fire on a town while civilians are inside.
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‘There were periods where we heard them [Russian soldiers] crying in combat, a period where they were insulting each other – obviously not a sign of great morale’, said Samuel Cardillo, 26, who founded ShadowBreak told The Telegraph.
‘There was an instance where they shot at each other, there was an instance where they had to transport dead bodies back to their forward operating bases. Many times you can hear them not at their highest level of happiness.’
The footage cannot be verified by Metro.co.uk, but follows a senior Pentagon official’s comments that some Kremlin troops had ‘deliberately punched holes in their fuel tanks’ to escape the front line.
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It also comes after a text message from a Russian soldier to his mother shown to the UN apparently said: ‘Mum, I’m in Ukraine. This is a real war. I’m scared, we’re firing at everyone, even civilians.’
Read out by Serhiy Kyslytsia, Ukraine’s envoy, the text added: ‘The only thing I want right now is to kill myself.’
Shadowbreak bosses say they were able to collect 24 hours of footage as the Russian military often relies on mobile phones and analogue walkie-talkies – both of which can be intercepted.
In one clip a soldier who appears to be senior tells another: ‘We will cover the town… with artillery fire.’
A strained exchange follows, with the troop arguing that civilians must be told to leave first.
The commanding soldier is said to sound irritated, but ultimately accepts innocent families must leave the area beforehand.
Another recording shows the same man who suggested shelling a town lose his temper in a spat over supplies.
Using profanities, he cries: ’We’ve been here for three days! When the hell is it going to be ready?’
A third clip captured a soldier seemingly breaking down into tears as they plead with their superior.
‘It’s slow, it’s slow’, they say. The only word audible in response is ‘quickly’.
A number of previously reported messages have suggested troops were told Ukrainians would welcome them as heroes – but the reality has been the opposite.
‘We were told we would be greeted with open arms, but they call us fascists’, the message Mr Kyslytsia brought to the UN’s attention yesterday said.
It comes as Ukraine invites mums to come and ‘collect’ Russian troops captured during battle.
Some Ukrainian people are giving captured Russians tea and food, and letting them call their families, Kyiv Independent reports.
Photo Credit: Getty
