What's New
Russian military commanders are refusing to obey orders to send their subordinates on "suicidal" missions across the Dnieper River to join a planned offensive campaign, according to a post on Telegram by military partisan group ATESH.
Tension in the Kherson area of Ukraine among Russian units has been increasing as Russian forces prepare to launch an offensive, and the tasks set by the command continue to "undermine the morale of the personnel."
Newsweek reached out to the Russian defense ministry for comment via email outside of normal business hours.
Why It Matters
The insubordination of Russian military commanders in Kherson is significant because it may be signaling a shift in overall morale among Moscow's troops, which could affect how long the war continues, and how much manpower Vladimir Putin has.
What to Know
The Russian military reportedly gathered 300 boats earlier this month to cross the Dnieper River to gain control of some of the islands in the Dnipro delta, according to the Kyiv Independent. However, not only have Russian military commanders refused to send their subordinates to cross the river, but the soldiers themselves have been coming up with ways to avoid doing so.
In their refusal to cross the river to join the assaults in Kherson, Russian military servicemen from the 1196th motorized rifle regiment of the territorial troops have reportedly been sabotaging boats and committing suicide. Describing the ramifications of the Russian servicemen's acts, ATESH wrote that they "undermine the discipline and combat readiness of units, and the Russian command perceives them as a serious threat and that: "They are convinced that this could disrupt the plans of the Russian troops to advance on the right bank of the Kherson region."
In preparation for the offensive, Russia has also been increasing its stock of ammunition, and combat equipment and boats are being prepared for use. The partisan group also noted that although Russian forces are preparing for the offensive and commanders are being called to urgent meetings, "no one [in the units] really understands what is happening."
ATESH also wrote on Telegram that Russian soldiers "deliberately sabotage engines, puncture rubber boats, and even transmit coordinates to the Ukrainian Defense Forces about the location of boat bases and fuel reserves" to avoid being sent to storm the islands in the Dnieper delta.
Russian sabotage and reconnaissance groups recently attempted to cross the Dnieper River in Kherson on December 20, but they were rebuffed by Ukrainian troops, according to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW). Russian forces utilized heavy artillery and conducted rocket strikes on the right bank of the river and tried to take advantage of weather and smoke screens to conceal their mission, but they were unsuccessful.
Ukrainian Southern Defense Forces Spokesperson Colonel Vladyslav Voloshyn said that Russian forces are focused on Kozatskyi Island and Velikiy Potemkin Island. The region has been the subject of continuous fighting by both sides as after Ukrainian troops seized Kherson and other nearby regional settlements in November 2022, Russian forces were relegated to the river's east bank.
What People Are Saying
Jason Jay Smart, a pro-Ukraine user on X, formerly known as Twitter, wrote: "'Vladimir Putin faces army revolt as 'commanders refuse to send troops' to storm key river. Russian units in Crimea were destroying their boats in a desperate bid not to be sent to Kherson to join the assault."
What Happens Next
It remains to be seen whether Russia can mobilize enough troops to launch the offensive and seize back territory in Kherson.
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