Russian command hides real losses near Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk by labeling dead as deserters
Russian command conceals real losses by listing killed soldiers as absent without leave (photo: Getty Images)
The Russian Armed Forces command is concealing real losses in the Pokrovsk sector in eastern Ukraine by registering killed soldiers as absent without leave (AWOL), according to the partisan movement Atesh.
Agents of the Atesh movement within Russia's 30th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade are engaged in systematic practice. After heavy losses, the command deliberately registers the dead as "those who have voluntarily left their unit." This allows them to hide the real number of killed soldiers and avoid complaints from relatives.
According to the report, the brigade has already created separate lists containing hundreds of names, labeling the dead as deserters. Personnel are openly told that "registering them as AWOL is easier than explaining to the families where the body is.''
This scheme is used both for those who went missing during chaotic assaults on the city and for those who were "eliminated" by blocking units.
Over the past year, the number of such falsified AWOL cases has increased dramatically.
"As our agents report: From the number of these AWOL cases, you could already form an entire brigade,'' Atesh noted.
It is reported that this practice completely destroys what remains of trust between soldiers. Troops understand that they can be labeled as deserters at any moment—even if they died in battle.
This causes fear, aggression, and a rapid decline in morale. Discipline is collapsing, trust in commanders is gone, and the unit's combat capability degrades with every new assault.
Fighting for Pokrovsk
The Pokrovsk sector remains the epicenter of fighting in the Donetsk region. Russian forces are trying to encircle Pokrovsk from several directions and are transferring additional troops there.
According to Ukrainian Armed Forces Colonel Vladyslav Seleznov, Russia has concentrated more than 140,000 troops on the Pokrovsk axis.
The Ukrainian Air Assault Forces reported that Russian troops are mostly located in the southern part of Pokrovsk, with smaller groups spread across the wider agglomeration. The enemy is assaulting Defense Forces positions around the clock and suffering heavy losses.
Recently, the Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Oleksandr Syrskyi, stated that Ukrainian units continue to hold the northern part of Pokrovsk. The battle for the city continues.
Despite Russia's claims, the cities of Pokrovsk and Myrnohrad are not encircled. Ukrainian forces control key areas and are expanding logistics to support frontline units.
More details on what is happening in Pokrovsk and on other fronts can be found in the RBC-Ukraine report.
