Russia Forcing Deserters, Refuseniks Awaiting Trial To Kharkiv Frontlines

Russia is sending hundreds of soldiers awaiting trials at Russian military prisons to the front. These soldiers, who previously deserted from or refused combat elsewhere in Ukraine, are having their trials cancelled and are, instead, being forcibly deployed to the front lines in Ukraine's northern Kharkiv oblast.

This may help explain why counterattacking Ukrainian units are finding so many Russian troops surrendering without a fight in that sector specifically. JL

Olena Ivashkiv reports in Ukraine Pravda:

Russia launched the offensive in northern Kharkiv Oblast when its northern forces were understrength.  (So), the Russian Defence Ministry has been sending servicemen awaiting trial to the front in Kharkiv Oblast to reinforce its limited forces. Officials began forcibly deploying hundreds of servicemen who had (earlier) refused to engage in combat in Ukraine back to the front, specifically to northern Kharkiv Oblast and Donetsk Oblast. Soldiers held at military bases in Russia, awaiting trial for their refusal to fight (had) their trials abruptly cancelled and they were sent directly to Ukraine.

Russia has been forcibly sending men who refused to fight in Ukraine to the front instead of prosecuting them for refusing to participate in combat operations.

Source: Institute for the Study of War (ISW)

ISW believes that Russian forces launched an offensive in northern Kharkiv Oblast when the Northern Grouping of Forces was understrength. Therefore, the Russian Defence Ministry has been sending servicemen awaiting trial to the front in Kharkiv Oblast to reinforce the limited forces in this area.

The Russian opposition media outlet Verstka stated on 3 June that Russian military officials had begun forcibly deploying hundreds of servicemen who had refused to engage in combat to the front in Ukraine, specifically to northern Kharkiv Oblast and Donetsk Oblast  in May 2024.

Initially, these soldiers were held at military bases in Russia, awaiting trial for their refusal to fight. However, their trials were abruptly cancelled and they were sent directly to Ukraine.

Verstka reported that some soldiers had been coerced into volunteering for deployment through physical abuse. Others were forcibly taken from their cells at gunpoint and transported to the frontlines. 

At least 170 servicemen have had their trials cancelled and have been deployed to Ukraine without the knowledge of the legal authorities, including investigators, prosecutors and lawyers.

Furthermore, several sources, including one from the Russian leader’s administration, indicated that the Russian military is assigning conscripts and less skilled reservists to non-combat roles within Russia's border forces. They are doing this to free up experienced soldiers for the offensive in northern Kharkiv Oblast. However, deserters are also being sent to fight.