But other hardy civilians decided to join the war effort despite their age, health and limited training, to bolster troop numbers after Kyiv's stunning counter-offensive. The number who have fled now likely exceeds the number of troops in Putin's original invasion forces, military intelligence suggests. Those sent to war were already lamenting the outdated equipment and poor morale just weeks after the outbreak of war, an investigation by the New York Times claims. Many troops revealed the Kremlin had lied about the purpose of the war, showing an early insight into the reality on the ground. The dire situation for the troops has led to Putin's mobilisation order, which came as Ukrainian forces dealt heavy battlefield setbacks to Moscow.

Source: Daily Mail September 30, 2022 05:00 UTC