Russia’s human rights ombudsman Tatyana Moskalkova on Monday asked the head of the Russian General Staff, Valery Gerasimov, to investigate information that Tatarstan recruits were allegedly sent “practically without weapons” to fight in Ukraine .
It follows a video published on social networks in which about two dozen men in camouflage uniforms say that upon arrival in Ukraine, they were split into separate units, transferred to the command of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) Given and sent on one. Mission without any equipment or support.
“We were handed over to the leadership of the DPR. The local leadership doesn’t care about us, we are seen here as expendable material. Their motto is: we fight until the last soldier, and then they will be sent new ones.” said one of the mobsters in a video shared on social media. “When we arrived here, we were split into different units, they took away all equipment and humanitarian aid from us. On 5 February we were sent to attack without any preparation.”
“I sent an appeal to the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, Army General Valery Gerasimov, with a request to investigate the information that was being circulated on the soldiers’ networks,” Moskalkova said in a statement on Monday. appear.” As part of a special military operation mobilized from the Republic of Tatarstan, having virtually no weapons, was sent to perform combat missions.
The Russian Human Rights Council – serving under Russian President Vladimir Putin – also stated that they would look into another case regarding mobilized men from Smolensk who went to the council with a complaint about the military command’s actions.
“I received such an appeal, and I managed to get it through HRC channels: an inspection has been scheduled. So, if any of you are facing similar issues, get in touch. At least The less we help someone, ”said Eva Merkacheva, a member of the Presidential Council for Civil Society and Human Rights.
According to Merkacheva, the troops mobilized from Smolensk were immediately sent to the front line, where they remained for three months. After this, he was briefly sent to the rear and returned to the front lines. He was “allowed to rest neither physically nor mentally.”
The Human Rights Council said in a statement that they would “monitor this grave situation with mobilisation.”
Here’s what Wagner’s former fighters are saying: Two former fighters of the Russian private military company Wagner told CNN but about their horrific experiences Battle field in eastern Ukraine, and anyone who faltered was immediately shot by their own commanders.
Both fighters were captured by the Ukrainian army late last year. CNN is not disclosing his identity for his safety. both are married with children and were admitted while in prison, Was serving a 20-year sentence for a murder charge.
CNN’s Tim Lister and Fredrik Pleitgen contributed reporting to this post.