Russian army lacks drinking water at front - UK intelligence
The Russian army lacks drinking water at the front (Getty Images)
Russian military units fighting in Ukraine are reportedly experiencing a severe shortage of drinking water, leading to attempts at filtering liquid from stagnant puddles, citing the UK Ministry of Defense.
"Damage inflicted during ongoing Russian strikes against utilities infrastructure is now almost certainly curtailing water supply. Any water supply issues will have been exacerbated by a period of above average temperature in the region," the report says.
According to the briefing, on July 23, a pro-Russian military blogger noted that water rations for Russian pilots had been limited to one liter per day. This is equivalent to a quarter of the minimum recommended water intake for working in high-temperature conditions.
As a result, Russian pilots have turned to locals for water. The blogger appealed to Russian water supply companies to provide additional water to Russian military bases in Rostov, Voronezh, and Crimea.
British intelligence reports indicate that in response to the water shortage, some Russian military units have been forced to improvise filtration attempts using stagnant puddles for their daily water needs. This has likely led to an increase in waterborne illnesses among Russian soldiers.
"This shortage of water leading to dehydration and increased risk of infection will almost certainly impact morale and operation effectiveness," the UK Ministry of Defense says.
Previously, British intelligence reported that the lack of regular troop rotations was one of the most significant factors contributing to low morale and the inability of the Russian army to conduct high-level training after the invasion.
The lack of such training further hampers Russia’s ability to carry out successful complex offensive operations, according to the UK Ministry of Defense.
