Russian military personnel are requesting to be moved away from the frontline in Ukraine controlled by Vladimir Putin. Instances of insubordination and rebellion within Kremlin forces near Pokrovsk in the Donetsk region are surfacing as Ukraine launches significant attacks on various targets deep within Russian territory on Orthodox Christmas Eve. This unrest follows allegations of intoxicated commanders in the Zaporizhzhia region.
Despite being unseen in 2026, Putin is anticipated to attend a midnight church service tonight amid challenges such as the arrest of his close associate Nicolás Maduro in Venezuela by the US and unrest in Iran, a crucial Moscow ally. Additionally, he is under pressure from Donald Trump to halt the violence and has faced criticism from the US for baseless claims that Ukraine plotted to assassinate him in one of his palaces.
Reports from the pro-Ukraine partisan group ATESH reveal that Russian officers stationed on the Pokrovsk front are pleading to be relocated to safer areas to avoid peril. The dissent appears to be widespread within the 39th Guards Motor Rifle Brigade, part of the Eastern Military District’s 68th Army Corps.
While Putin falsely declared the liberation of Pokrovsk last month, clashes persist in the vital location. ATESH indicated that the command is exerting control over officers through threats of punishment, demotions, and career stagnation. Officers are reportedly reprimanded severely for any loss of position by their subordinates and are coerced to present a false sense of stability, signing documents that misrepresent the actual situation.
The group further disclosed that the Russian officers are feeling demoralized, lack familiarity with the local terrain, and consider the Pokrovsk front as a hazardous assignment. Officers are increasingly requesting transfers to less dangerous frontlines or rear positions and are constantly anxious about potential attacks by anti-tank weapons and guerrilla forces, as well as the risk of being exposed by local residents to the Ukrainian Defense Forces.
This unrest is mirrored in reports concerning the 74th Motor Rifle Regiment of the Russian Armed Forces in the occupied Zaporizhzhia region, where significant losses are attributed to commanders consuming alcohol. According to troops interviewed by ATESH, orders are issued under severe alcohol influence, leading to high casualties due to commanders’ impaired judgment.
ATESH highlighted that the “alcohol-battalion” is witnessing up to 100 casualties per month, considerably higher than other units, due to erratic commands from intoxicated leaders. The fate of the battalion, it seems, hinges on the commanders’ alcohol consumption rather than strategic planning or the enemy’s actions.
Despite these challenges, Putin remains resolute in continuing the conflict, evident in the recent strike on a US-owned vegetable plant in Dnipro, Ukraine. The attack resulted in the spillage of 300 tonnes of vegetable oil on the road. Additionally, Russian forces targeted residential homes in Nikopol, Dnipropetrovsk region, while Ukrainian strikes during Orthodox Christmas Eve led to casualties in various locations, including Tver and Lipetsk.
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