Desperate Russian soldiers forced to fight with shovels as supply of weapons dwindles

A Russian soldier, whose name is being withheld for his protection, fought for the recently liberated town of Andriivka. His wife has now revealed how soldiers, faced with no choice, were slaughtered by Ukraine’s weapons as they scrambled to defend themselves with what they had left. She says her husband and his fellow soldiers were ‘going at them with shovels and without artillery support’.

The woman spoke to Radio Liberty and explained how three Russian brigades were almost wiped out as they fought to regain control of Andriivka. Her husband has since spoken to the media himself, and described the extent of their hopeless situation.

Russian soldiers ‘cannon fodder’ in war against Ukraine

The soldier explained that Russian men were sent as ‘cannon fodder’ on this mission:

We need the coordinates for our artillery and information about the targets we should engage, but our artillery can't function because they lack shells.

When urgent reports are issued from the soldiers to explain how dire the situation is, their commanders reportedly often respond with ‘so what?’. The UK’s Ministry of Defence has said in an intelligence report that the shovels used by Russians are likely the MPL-50 shovels that were designed in 1869 and have a reputation as a weapon in Russia. The ministry said that using the tool ‘as a weapon highlights the brutal and low-tech fighting which has come to characterise much of the war’.

With the capture of Andriivka, Ukraine has made a significant breakthrough, but it has come at a large cost of life for both sides.

Read more:Vladimir Putin facing major challenge as war in Ukraine has cost Russia this outrageous amount

Retreating is not an option for soldiers

The soldier explained that out of 25 people on a mission, only 6 returned. They were told, 'you still have no ammunition; go in as infantry'. His wife explained that the soldiers have no choice as there are Russian units behind them who will not allow them to retreat: ‘There's no retreat because there are people behind us who won't spare us either.’

Throughout the war, so-called barrier units have reportedly been preventing Russian soldiers from fleeing. The Express reports that a video has been circulating which claims to show surrendering Russian soldiers being attacked by their own artillery as they move closer to Ukrainian lines.

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Sources used:

Express: Helpless Russian soldiers fighting Ukraine 'with shovels' as weapon reserves run dry

BBC: Ukraine war: Russian reservists fighting with shovels - UK defence ministry