Intercepts suggest hunger and low morale among Russian soldiers in Donetsk

Russian soldiers are dying of hunger in Donetsk Oblast, officials said.

“We used to get one or two chocolate bars dropped to us twice a day. Now it’s the third day we haven’t eaten at all, and tomorrow will be the fourth,” a male voice says in the recording.

Commanders appear indifferent to the situation, with an officer failing to report the lack of supplies up the chain of command, officials said.

“He doesn’t report anything to you at all. I guess you don’t know what’s going on here,” another soldier says in the recording, which contains profanity.

The soldier also complains that others believe they are at least getting minimal rations, while in reality they have nothing to eat.

A likely outcome for many Russian soldiers is death from hunger in trenches on foreign soil, Ukraine’s military intelligence said.

Surrender remains the only way out, officials added.

Intercepted communications in March indicated that Russian commanders ordered the abuse and mutilation of subordinates who refused to take part in what were described as hopeless assaults, Ukraine’s military intelligence said.

Further intercepted conversations released on April 20 pointed to killings and torture within Russia’s 5th Separate Guards Motor Rifle Brigade, officials said.