Demoralised Russian troops in Ukraine are plotting ways to get out of the country including trying to arrange ‘fake marriages’, Ukraine’s intelligence agency has revealed.
Analysts say that the Russian military is overstretched, with low morale and could soon run out of combat-ready units as the war in Ukraine enters its 105th day.
A wiretapped recording of a conversation between a Russian soldier and his friend revealed officers ‘had no options at all’ and many had already made unsuccessful attempts to be discharged.
The Russian was heard to say: ‘Either you get wounded, killed or there’s an official order to withdraw.’
He added that he himself had tried to organise a fake marriage in an effort to escape the conflict.
The man said: ‘I already f****** told one of my female friends, “go submit an application to the marriage registration office. I’ll f****** tell them about it here”.
‘She said, “no f****** way, that’s not an option”.
‘Everyone here is trying any possible way [to get out] … but there’s no way.’
The audio footage was released by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), The Telegraph reports.
Increasing numbers of Russian soldiers are looking for excuses to return home as commanders tighten restrictions on leave, said a spokesman from the SBU.
According to another call intercepted by the intelligence service, a man believed to be a Russian soldier is heard to say that their water supply has stopped.
