Free Republic

Russian soldiers call the practice a sacrifice to Baba Yaga, a fearsome witch from Slavic folklore who feasts on her victims. A Russian serviceman is seen on video being tied up to a tree and abandoned to his fate – possibly death – at the hands of one of Ukraine’s large attack drones. Why this is happening is clear from a radio intercept about a similar incident, shared with CNN, in which a Russian commander can clearly be heard ordering a subordinate be tied up in this way as punishment for desertion. The instruction is given twice: “Hide him somewhere...

Derek Huffman, a Texas father, relocated his family to Russia to escape “wokeness” and joined the Russian military in pursuit of citizenship. Promised a non-combat role, he was instead deployed to Ukraine’s frontlines. His wife says he’s untrained, overwhelmed, and unpaid. Huffman says he’ll “do whatever it takes” to return safely.