Russia is sending injured soldiers back to fight on the frontline in Ukraine while still wounded and "on crutches" as over 1,000 soldiers are killed each day.
The UK Ministry of Defence reported that Russian troops are being returned to combat duties with unhealed wounds, often requiring mobility aids.
The practice comes as Russia continues to occupy approximately one-fifth of Ukraine after nearly three years of intense warfare.
According to British officials, Russia's 20th Combined Arms Army has specifically formed assault groups comprised of walking wounded soldiers.
The injured troops are being directly sent into combat operations, as revealed in open source reporting cited by the UK Ministry of Defence.
The return of wounded personnel to their units is reportedly happening at the "behest of their commanders", with soldiers being "prematurely" discharged from medical care.
The MoD explained this practice likely stems from commanders' efforts to retain personnel who would otherwise be lost in Russia's overwhelmed medical system.
"This reduces the pressure on the overburdened military medical system and increases units' ability to track and use wounded servicemen for operational tasks," the British officials stated.
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The MoD added: "The lack of proper medical attention in facilities away from the frontline necessitates the transfer of the administrative and medical burden back to troops units."
The scale of Russia's military crisis is highlighted by Ukrainian General Staff estimates, which suggest Russia has sustained 830,000 casualties since Vladimir Putin's invasion began.
More than 400,000 wounded Russian troops have required treatment in medical facilities away from the frontline since February 2022, according to Ukrainian officials.
These staggering numbers underscore the severe strain on Russia's military medical system, forcing commanders to implement unconventional personnel management strategies.
Putin has previously stated his ambition to create the world's second-largest army after China, targeting 1.5 million active personnel.
However, these plans face significant challenges as Russia continues to suffer heavy losses in Ukraine, where it currently occupies about a fifth of the country's territory.
Putin has indicated he would only agree to peace if the "realities on the ground" were recognised - suggesting he wants occupied Ukrainian territories to be officially recognised as Russian.
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The UK Ministry of Defence reported that Russian troops are being returned to combat duties with unhealed wounds, often requiring mobility aids.
The practice comes as Russia continues to occupy approximately one-fifth of Ukraine after nearly three years of intense warfare.
According to British officials, Russia's 20th Combined Arms Army has specifically formed assault groups comprised of walking wounded soldiers.
The injured troops are being directly sent into combat operations, as revealed in open source reporting cited by the UK Ministry of Defence.
The return of wounded personnel to their units is reportedly happening at the "behest of their commanders", with soldiers being "prematurely" discharged from medical care.
The MoD explained this practice likely stems from commanders' efforts to retain personnel who would otherwise be lost in Russia's overwhelmed medical system.
"This reduces the pressure on the overburdened military medical system and increases units' ability to track and use wounded servicemen for operational tasks," the British officials stated.
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The MoD added: "The lack of proper medical attention in facilities away from the frontline necessitates the transfer of the administrative and medical burden back to troops units."
The scale of Russia's military crisis is highlighted by Ukrainian General Staff estimates, which suggest Russia has sustained 830,000 casualties since Vladimir Putin's invasion began.
More than 400,000 wounded Russian troops have required treatment in medical facilities away from the frontline since February 2022, according to Ukrainian officials.
These staggering numbers underscore the severe strain on Russia's military medical system, forcing commanders to implement unconventional personnel management strategies.
Putin has previously stated his ambition to create the world's second-largest army after China, targeting 1.5 million active personnel.
However, these plans face significant challenges as Russia continues to suffer heavy losses in Ukraine, where it currently occupies about a fifth of the country's territory.
Putin has indicated he would only agree to peace if the "realities on the ground" were recognised - suggesting he wants occupied Ukrainian territories to be officially recognised as Russian.
Find Out More...