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'They're just meat': Russia deploys punishment battalions in echo of Stalin
Reuters ^ | October 3, 2023 | Polina Nikolskaya and Maria Tsvetkova

Posted on 10/03/2023 4:24:24 AM PDT by Timber Rattler

Drunk recruits. Insubordinate soldiers. Convicts.

They're among hundreds of military and civilian offenders who've been pressed into Russian penal units known as "Storm-Z" squads and sent to the frontlines in Ukraine this year, according to 13 people with knowledge of the matter, including five fighters in the units.

Few live to tell their tale, the people said.

(snip)

"Storm fighters, they're just meat," said one regular soldier from army unit no. 40318 who was deployed near the fiercely contested city of Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine in May and June.

(snip)

Russian state-controlled media has reported that Storm-Z squads exist, that they took part in intense battles and some of their members received medals for bravery, but it has not disclosed how they are formed, or the losses they take.

(snip)

The penal squads, each about 100-150 strong and embedded within regular army units, have typically been sent to the most exposed parts of the front and often sustain heavy losses, according to Reuters interviews with the people, who identified at least five Storm-Z teams fighting to repel a Ukrainian counteroffensive in the east and south.

(Excerpt) Read more at reuters.com ...


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events; Russia; Ukraine
KEYWORDS: aloadofcrap; bidenswar; cannonfodder; convicts; garbagepost; globalistpropagenda; killallrooskies; liesforyouguys; mariatsvetkova; penalbattalions; polinanikolskaya; professionaltroll; propagenda; reuters; rooters; smellslikebullshit; ukieburger; westernprojection
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To: canuck_conservative

Rubbish. You must be Trudeaux.


21 posted on 10/03/2023 6:48:39 AM PDT by FlyingEagle
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To: Timber Rattler
Right, Ukrainian Nazis and neo-Nazis are the good guys and Russians are eviiil!

Never mind that in this war, Ukraine has used civilians as human shields, targeted a nuclear power plant, intentionally target civilians in Donetsk and used cluster bombs that have been banned by more than 120 nations.

You're sick, twisted psychopath.

You're the defending the evil empire as run by the Biden regime. There is a special place in hell for you.

22 posted on 10/03/2023 7:33:37 AM PDT by Kazan
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To: Timber Rattler
https://sonar21.com/hope-aint-a-plan/

The West’s “hope” strategy also bet the farm that the West could easily isolate Russia on the international stage and devastate its economy with sanctions. Whoops!! Instead of isolating Russia and inflicting economic chaos, Russia quickly responded and re-established itself as a leader of the Global South, coalesced with China in a de facto alliance, and ramped up its defense industry to levels not seen since World War II. I think the quote attributed to Admiral Yamamoto at the end of the movie, Tora, Tora, Tora, captures the unexpected results of Western hubris — “I fear all we have done is to awaken a sleeping giant and fill him with a terrible resolve.”

The West was put on notice over the past week by Russian leaders. Foreign Minister Lavrov, Defense Chief Shoigu, former President Medvedev and Speaker of the Duma Volodin all communicated a simple message — Ukraine must capitulate or it will cease to exist as a nation.

23 posted on 10/03/2023 7:34:11 AM PDT by Kazan
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To: Williams

“Why don’t you just get out of my country with your anti-western and anti-american propaganda, I mean it’s disgusting.”

Didn’t realize you’re in Europe, since Europe was the ONLY THING discussed in my posting.

Explains a lot regarding your position on Ukraine.


24 posted on 10/03/2023 7:40:48 AM PDT by BobL (I own an F150 so that I can tow my boat all day Saturday and look Manly)
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To: silverleaf

You have Russia and Ukraine mixed up.


25 posted on 10/03/2023 7:44:14 AM PDT by roving (👌⚓Deplorable Listless Vessel with Trumpitist who looks Trumpish)
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To: BobL

I’m not in Europe but you are in your own world.
This is what you and your ilk do make up fantasies and then insist they are real.


26 posted on 10/03/2023 8:26:14 AM PDT by Williams (Stop Tolerating The Intolerant)
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To: Williams

“I’m not in Europe”

Nice try, but you wouldn’t be responding that way if you weren’t in Europe, since my post only dealt with Europe and set you off (again).


27 posted on 10/03/2023 8:29:30 AM PDT by BobL (I own an F150 so that I can tow my boat all day Saturday and look Manly)
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To: roving

One of us is confused, for sure

I trust my own instincts and background to assess the situation
They’ve been accurate in the past


28 posted on 10/03/2023 9:24:35 AM PDT by silverleaf (Inside Every Progressive Is A Totalitarian Screaming To Get Out” —David Horowitz)
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To: BobL

It’s OK now you’re going to tell other people where they live because you just know they wouldn’t have a certain response unless they live in a certain part of the world.

I like when you continue to discredit yourself so that others are not fooled by you.


29 posted on 10/03/2023 9:53:48 AM PDT by Williams (Stop Tolerating The Intolerant)
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