Ukraine: Russian 'partial mobilisation' characterised by 'confusion' and 'inadequate training'
A number of problematic common themes are emerging for Russian reservists in Ukraine two months after President Vladimir Putin announced a partial mobilisation, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) has said.
In an update on Twitter, the MOD said the reservist's deployments are "often characterised by confusion over eligibility for service" and "inadequate training and personal equipment".
The update also said it is summed up by the "commitment to highly attritional combat missions".
"Most - though not all - mobilised reservists have previously served and numerous examples suggest that reservists are highly likely not having their medical status adequately reviewed and many are being compelled to serve with serious, chronic health conditions," the update said.
"Mobilised reservists have highly likely experienced particularly heavy casualties after being committed to dig ambitious trench systems while under artillery fire around the Luhansk Oblast town of Svatove.
"In Donetsk Oblast, reservists have been killed in large numbers in frontal assaults into well-established Ukrainian defensive zones around the town of Bakhmut.
"The Kremlin will likely be concerned that an increasing number of reservists' families are prepared to risk arrest by protesting against the conditions their relatives are serving under."
It comes after the MOD said Russia was likely redeploying elements of the VDV (airborne forces) to fronts in the Donbas region.
The VDV are Russia's elite airborne force, however the MOD said in an update on Twitter many of them will have been sent to Donetsk and Luhansk in recent weeks.
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