US: Russian Soldiers Are Being Executed for Disobeying Orders

A White House official said Thursday that the Russian military is executing its soldiers who don't follow orders in the offensive in eastern Ukraine. "We also have information that Russian commanders are threatening to execute entire units if they seek to retreat from Ukrainian artillery fire," said John Kirby, national security spokesperson. The US and Ukraine say Russia has suffered considerable losses in the battle for the frontline town of Avdiivka. Some of those Russian casualties, the US says, were inflicted "on the orders of their own leaders," per the BBC.

"It's barbaric," as well as an indication of Russian desperation to make progress, "particularly in the Donbas," Kelly said. "They are literally throwing young men into the fight who haven't been properly trained, haven't been properly equipped, and certainly are not being properly led." A spokesman for the Ukrainian army said there have been mutinies in some Russian units, as soldiers refuse orders to attack Ukrainian positions near Avdiivka because the losses have been so heavy. The town's 30,000 residents mostly have left while the battle rages. (More Russia-Ukraine war stories.)