Every day since the escalation of the Russian war of aggression in February 2022, the UK Ministry of Defence has published its assessment of the situation in the conflict. On today’s date, October 11, the focus is on the mental health of Russian soldiers.
On Network X, formerly Twitter, the UK Ministry of Defence writes: “The Russian military is in a mental health crisis. In December 2022, Russian psychologists determined that around 100,000 military personnel are suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This number is almost certainly higher, as the Russian military fails to provide adequate rotation and recovery from the battlefield.” Commanders have already pointed out the problem, including Major General Ivan Popov of the 58th Army, who has since been relieved of his command.
“There is further evidence that doctors in Russia are sending combat-incapacitated soldiers to the front. The number of appeals against Russian military medical commissions is higher in 2023 than in 2022, with many cases being rejected or claims being abandoned. As Russia does not sufficiently care for the mental health and combat capability of its soldiers, its combat power remains suboptimal.”
In Russia, updates from the UK Ministry of Defence are viewed as propaganda.
Image: kremlin.ru, Совещание по развитию дальневосточных городов (2023-03-14) 02, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (image size modified)