Russia’s own lawmakers call for troop withdrawal after massive battlefield losses
Russia acknowledges massive losses near Lyman and publicly blames general (photo: Getty Images)
Newly elected members of Russia's State Duma whose relatives were killed in the war are preparing a closed appeal to the military leadership. They are demanding that troops be withdrawn from one of the hottest sections of the front, according to the ATESH movement.
What the appeal says
The lawmakers, whose relatives were killed in the war, are preparing an unpublished appeal to Russian Defense Minister Andrey Belousov. In it, they call for troops to be withdrawn from problematic sections of the front to save soldiers' lives and maintain control over the units.
The appeal separately addresses the lack of professionalism of Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, Army General Valery Gerasimov. The lawmakers also draw attention to systematic lies cultivated by Russian generals in pursuit of further awards for "captured" settlements.
Situation in the Lyman direction
The appeal concerns the northern part of the Donetsk region near the town of Lyman, where the Ukrainian Defense Forces are conducting Operation Vivaldi. It was from this area that the Russian lawmakers learned of massive losses among Russian troops.
Agents of the ATESH movement within the Russian Armed Forces' Center Group of Forces report a significant technical advantage for Ukrainian units on this section of the front. Russian troops point to new robotic systems being used by Ukrainian forces.
Preliminary results of the State Duma "elections" have been announced in Russia, with the ruling United Russia party receiving around 57% of the vote.
Observers had reported widespread fraud and pressure on voters since voting began on September 18.
Meanwhile, the European Union said it would not recognize these "elections," which were also held in the occupied territories of Ukraine, and is preparing sanctions against those involved in organizing them.
Brussels also stressed that Russia had denied OSCE observers the opportunity to assess the voting process.
