Resigned Putin forced to send wounded soldiers back to the front

With Ukrainian officials estimating that Russian casualties have surpassed the grim milestone of one million, Vladimir Putin is reportedly sending wounded soldiers back into combat to make up for a severe shortage of troops.

After three years of war, Russia has suffered staggering human losses. Moscow had previously adopted a "meat grinder" strategy—sending waves of soldiers into enemy fire in an effort to overwhelm Ukrainian defenses through sheer numbers.

However, the Kremlin appears to have recently shifted its approach, opting for smaller assault units. Still, many of the newly deployed officers lack any real combat experience.

So far, President Putin has resisted calls for a full-scale mobilization, even as the Defense Ministry struggles to recruit new soldiers, resorting to increasingly desperate measures.

One such measure involves forcing injured soldiers to return to the battlefield before fully recovering. According to CNN, Ukrainian drone operators have released videos showing Russian troops on the front lines using crutches.

Russia has also recruited prisoners in exchange for presidential pardons—a tactic that is believed to have brought in around 180,000 fighters. Some reports suggest that women may be among these prisoner recruits, although no official data has confirmed this.

Additionally, Moscow has reportedly relied on a contingent of North Korean soldiers to fight alongside Russian forces in the Kursk region.

(QG - Source: The Conversation - Picture : © Pixabay)