RUSSIA: Demotivated and Abused – Soldiers on the Front Line

A few weeks ago, we examined the brutal conditions faced by Russia's Z penal battalions. These criminals, promised freedom after six months of combat in Ukraine, are often met with a far harsher reality. Instead of release, they’re kept in service long past the promised term, forced into relentless "meat wave" assaults until they’re either unfit for duty or dead. Yes, these are convicts—rapists, thieves, and murderers. But what about the regular troops, the so-called "brave" men fighting for Mother Russia and the vision of "russkiy mir"?

This week, we turn our attention to the treatment of Russia's regular soldiers. We'll examine their length of service, the conditions they endure, and the realities of their situation on the front lines. 

 

 

 HOW LONG ARE THEY ON THE BATTLEFIELD?

Let’s start with the simplest part of this topic. These contract soldiers initially sign up with the Russian military for a limited term, usually six months to a year. But since Putin's partial mobilization order in September 2022, all contracts have effectively become indefinite. Now, there are only four ways to leave military service: being deemed unfit due to severe injury, reaching the maximum age limit, being imprisoned, or by dying.

These coveted contracts offer a substantial payout, making it appear that soldiers willingly volunteer for the front lines. However, human rights activists argue that these men often become “slaves” to the system. In reality, all Russian men eligible for mobilization face immense pressure. They are forced to choose: sign these contracts or risk jail time and other severe penalties for refusing.

BARBARIC TREATMENTS 

We've established that Russian soldiers are effectively trapped on the front lines unless they’re either too old, severely injured, or dead. Now, let’s look at the conditions they face. Like the penal battalions, the average Russian soldier is often poorly equipped, underfed, and subject to abuse from superiors.

Front line soldiers frequently endure subhuman conditions, leaving them deeply demoralized. They’re forced to sleep in wet, freezing foxholes and trenches, exposed to Ukrainian drone attacks. Those lucky enough to have functional weapons often lack ammunition or find their guns unreliable due to age or heavy use. Firearms need regular maintenance, including barrel replacement after extensive use; given the length of this war, much of the Russian equipment is dangerously overused.

Reports describe grenade launchers jamming, weapons so old they seem relics of World War I, and soldiers being issued Kalashnikovs or other guns without ammunition. The helmets provided are often mismatched, either too large, too small, or offering insufficient protection. Their gear is worn out or broken, and their boots—typically ill-fitting and in poor condition—become a painful liability during forced marches covering tens of kilometers. Food rations are commonly described as expired and unpalatable, pushing many Russian soldiers to loot Ukrainian homes and stores when they enter towns.

Adding to these hardships is the brutal treatment from fellow soldiers and officers. Orders must be obeyed without question; refusal is met with severe punishment. This can range from beatings by fellow soldiers to being sent to the penal battalions to endure "meat wave" assaults, or even execution if deemed a deserter or traitor. FSB or GRU officers are stationed behind these units to ensure no one attempts to escape their duties. A common punishment is to leave someone fully naked and exposed in a foxhole for several days as a consequence for disobeying orders.

In previous posts, we’ve covered the horrific treatment of Ukrainian prisoners by some Russian soldiers. Ironically, these Russian troops are also subject to relentless Ukrainian FPV drone strikes, which are highly effective in trench warfare. Ukrainians pilot these small, inexpensive drones toward resting or hidden Russian troops, dropping grenades or other explosives. As soon as Russian soldiers hear the faint hum of a drone, they often attempt to flee—but for many, it’s already too late.

WHAT ABOUT MEDICAL TREATMENTS?

War is dangerous, with injuries demanding immediate care—yet, for Russian soldiers, real medical support is nearly non-existent. Initial treatment often relies on self-care, though most lack even basic medical supplies like bandages, tourniquets, pain relief or disinfectant. Instead, they make do with scraps or simple bandages. The real challenge, though, is evacuation speed.

Many injured soldiers are left to bleed out on the battlefield, their bodies retrieved days or even weeks later, decomposed and barely identifiable. They’re often buried in unmarked graves, listed as "missing in action" to deny their families the promised compensation.

Recovery conditions are equally grim. Instead of hospitals, wounded soldiers are often housed in makeshift facilities like training centers or abandoned buildings. Complaining leads to faster redeployment, and soldiers rarely get time to heal properly. Even those with severe health issues—HIV, cirrhosis, missing limbs, eyesight issues, broken bones, open wounds—are sent back to the front, fueling desperation and the grim realization that escape from the war only comes when they are completely incapacitated or dead.

ANY REINFORCEMENTS? 

Russia’s recruitment drive to send new soldiers to the front is floundering. Fewer men are signing up as word spreads about the dire conditions and severe punishments awaiting them. Even the promise of a generous payout is failing to attract recruits; most see no point in risking death for an unclear cause, especially when salaries often go unpaid and death benefits for families are unreliable.

Putin is reluctant to announce another partial mobilization, knowing it would again unsettle the population as it did during the first wave, which led to around 900,000 men fleeing the country, with about 650,000 still living aboard. Additionally, the sheer number of new recruits needed is more than the Russian Ministry of Defense can adequately equip or train at the moment.

Instead, the Russian military is attempting to attract foreign volunteers with promises of high wages and Russian citizenship. Recruits are sought from China, India, Nepal, Syria, and various African nations, although these foreign soldiers are often reluctant participants. Some are refugees coerced into signing contracts with the Russian Ministry of Defense, effectively trapped in Russia and forced to be in military service.

And then there are the North Korean troops, currently estimated to be around 12,000 stationed in the Kursk region. By most accounts, these soldiers are poorly treated, frequently subjected to derogatory remarks, and assigned to the most dangerous front line positions. Reports indicate they are suffering high casualty rates.

Lastly, as we’ve touched on before, there’s the infamous reliance on penal battalions and death squads. With harsh laws in Russia, there will always be someone who runs afoul of them—someone who can be coerced into signing away freedom in exchange for a stint in Ukraine. For many, it’s a one-way ticket, stripping away any hope of returning to a normal life.

CONCLUSION 

In the end, it’s clear that Putin values his imperial ambitions far more than the lives of Russian citizens. The mothers and wives of dead soldiers may try to protest, but these efforts are swiftly silenced. Putin cannot risk a public backlash like the one sparked by the Afghan War, which contributed to the Soviet Union’s collapse.

His current strategy hinges on two hopes: that Trump will help him gain ground in Ukraine and that he can continue to rely on North Korean soldiers, foreign mercenaries, and a dwindling supply of Russian troops to keep the fight going. But as more Russians understand the disregard their government has for their lives, it becomes evident that there’s no future in continuing this war.

The only sustainable path forward is one that demands peace—one that calls for the immediate, full withdrawal of troops from Ukraine and for the establishment of a government that prioritizes Russia’s well-being over the reckless pursuit of power. Only then can Russia hope to avoid further ruin and work toward a future that truly benefits its people.

Resources 

• Bereg: Russian contract soldiers are not released from the army for two years - even if they do not want to fight with Ukraine. "Bereg" explains how this system works
• YLE: Venäläissotilaat avautuvat karmeasta kohtelusta rintamalla – Ilmari Käihkö: ”Keinoille löytyy selkeästi hyväksyntää”
• RFE/RL: 'Slaves': Russian Soldiers Voice Disillusion With Ukraine War
• SWP: How Russia Is Recruiting for the Long War