Russia throws unprepared irregular troops into offensive in Ukraine- Russians suffer heavy losses

Russia is increasingly using irregular military formations in offensive operations against Ukraine. Such units are more vulnerable and have apparently suffered significantly heavier losses than other enemy units over the past nine months.

The British Ministry of Defence announced this. As noted on the department’s page on the X social network, the Russian Federation is using the aforementioned formations despite the fact that they are
unprepared, untrained and have no artillery or air support. This makes them more vulnerable than units of the regular Russian army. One example of such Russian units is the “Volunteer Corps”, created in 2023, consisting of more than 20 thousand reservists, mercenaries and ex-convicts, the British Ministry of Defence noted. The agency also states that these formations serve in irregular units under a single command and control.

“These formations have probably suffered proportionally greater losses over the past nine months compared to Russian regular units,” the ministry said.

Earlier it became known that an 18-year-old Russian occupier who wanted to “earn money for his family” in the war was liquidated at the front. The invader turned 18 a month before his death, and he decided to sign a contract instead of being drafted into the army. He was liquidated seven days later, according to Obozrevatel media outlet.

The Russian military, facing significant losses in Ukraine, increasingly relies on unconventional units like the Volunteer Corps. Established in 2023, this unit comprises volunteers, reservists, mercenaries, and ex-prisoners, totaling around 20,000 men. These irregular forces, often lacking artillery or air support, are vulnerable and suffer high casualty rates. Despite this, they conduct various operations, from sabotage to amphibious raids. The conflict's toll is heavy, with Russia losing over 1,000 troops daily and approximately 550,000 men since the war began. The Russian military is fighting a war in Ukraine that is stretching its very fabric. Increasingly, Russian commanders have to rely on unconventional and irregular units to make up for the destructive losses Russian line units suffer every day on the frontlines.