Putin's conscripts 'forced to fight with shovels'

Russian troopers are possible preventing with shovels in “hand-to-hand” fight towards Ukrainian forces amid an ammunition scarcity, the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) mentioned.

During an assault on a Ukrainian stronghold late final month, Russian reservist troops have been outfitted with solely “firearms and shovels”, the MoD mentioned in an replace on Sunday.

It mentioned the shovel was an MPL-50 – an implement designed in 1869 that has modified little since.

Russian President Vladimir Putin meets conscripts at a army coaching centre close to Moscow. The UK Defence Ministry mentioned a number of the reservists had fought with solely shovels and firearms throughout an assault on a Ukrainian stronghold in February 2023. (AP)

The MPL-50 army shovel is mythologised in Russia, the British defence ministry mentioned. (Wikipedia)

The MoD mentioned it “highlights the brutal and low-tech fighting” that has characterised a lot of the battle.

One of the reservists described being “neither physically nor psychologically” ready for fight, the replace mentioned.

“Recent evidence suggests an increase in close combat in Ukraine,” it mentioned.

“This is probably a result of the Russian command continuing to insist on offensive action largely consisting of dismounted infantry, with less support from artillery fire because Russia is short of munitions.”

The MoD didn’t present about the place the battles involving shovels befell.

A dire lack of ammunition for Russian models has been highlighted by Yevgeny Prigozhin, the pinnacle of the Russian mercenary pressure Wagner Group.

Last month Prigozhin posted an image on Telegram exhibiting the our bodies of a number of dozen slain Wagner fighters, piled unceremoniously in a courtyard.

Alongside that surprising photograph, he posted the picture of a proper request from Wagner for extra ammunition, pointing the finger of blame squarely on the Russian Ministry of Defence for squandering a kind of lives.

Wagner Group head Yevgeny Prigozhin attends the funeral of Dmitry Menshikov, a fighter of the Wagner group who died during a special operation in Ukraine, at the Beloostrovskoye cemetery outside St. Petersburg, Russia, on Dec. 24, 2022. — Wagner Group head Yevgeny Prigozhin mentioned ammunition shortages are inflicting casualties for his mercenary fighters in Ukraine. (AP)

Months of heavy shelling have devastated the town of Bakhmut in japanese Ukraine. (Nine)

In different news, strain from Russian forces have mounted on Ukrainians defending Bakhmut, as residents tried to flee with assist from troops who Western analysts say could also be getting ready to withdraw from the important thing japanese stronghold.

Bakhmut has for months been a first-rate goal of Moscow’s grinding japanese offensive within the warfare, with Russian troops, together with forces from the personal Wagner Group, inching ever nearer.

– Reported with Associated Press