Mobilised Russians as "cannon fodder" place significant pressure on defenders – Zelenskyy

KATERYNA TYSHCHENKO — THURSDAY, 13 OCTOBER 2022, 23:06

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says that Russian commanders use mobilised [soldiers] as "cannon fodder", but this places significant pressure on Ukrainian defenders.

Source: President's evening video address

Quote: "Now Russia is throwing thousands of its mobilised men to the front. They have no significant military training, but their command does not need it at all. They expect that the mobilised Russians will be able to survive the war for at least a few weeks, then die, then they will send the new ones to the front.

But during this time, such use by Russian generals of their people as "cannon fodder" makes it possible to create additional pressure on our defenders. It's an essential pressure.

And I am grateful to all our soldiers who endure it. I am also grateful to the partners who understand that in such conditions we need an increase in defence assistance."

Details: Zelenskyy also noted that the Bakhmut front remains one of the toughest on the front. He commended the soldiers of the 5th separate assault regiment of the Ground Forces, the 1st separate battalion of marines and the battalion of the 4th brigade of the National Guard of Ukraine "for their skillful and heroic actions" during the defence on this front.

In the video address, the president also urged [Ukrainians] to follow safety rules and heed air-raid sirens, especially on 14 October, when Ukraine celebrates the Day of Defenders.

Background:

• Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the partial mobilisation of Russian citizens on 21 September. 
• The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine stated in September that the Russian command was sending newly conscripted soldiers without any training directly to the line of contact to replenish units that had suffered losses. 
• It became known on 28 September that the first newly conscripted soldiers had already arrived on the front. 
• The governor and government of Cheliabinsk Oblast (Russia) confirmed on 13 October that five conscripts from Cheliabinsk Oblast had been killed in the war in Ukraine. According to the BBC, these soldiers were sent to the front in Kherson Oblast without any training.  
• Moreover, Russian authorities sent the head of a department at the office of the Mayor of Moscow to the war in Ukraine without any combat experience, and there have been reports in the media that he has already been killed.

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