'We were completely exposed': Russian conscripts say hundreds killed in attack

[blue-wave]

Source: The Guardian

Hours after Aleksei Agafonov arrived in the Luhansk region on 1 November as part of a battalion of new conscripts, his unit were handed shovels and ordered to dig trenches throughout the night.

Their digging, which they took turns to do because of the lack of available shovels, was abruptly interrupted in the early hours of the next day as Ukrainian artillery lit up the sky and shells started raining down on Agafonov and his unit.

“A Ukrainian drone first flew over us, and after that their artillery started to pound us for hours and hours, nonstop,” Agafonov, who survived the shelling, told the Guardian in a phone interview on Monday.

“I saw men being ripped apart in front of me, most of our unit is gone, destroyed. It was hell,” he said, adding that his unit’s commanders abandoned them just before the shelling started.

Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/nov/07/we-were-completely-exposed-russian-conscripts-say-hundreds-killed-in-attack

[sakabatou]

1. Not enough shovels to dig trenches or graves.

That tells us, again and again, that Russia is throwing their men into a grinder.

[The_Casual_Observer]

2. And there is an open discussion in the press about plans to

Snuff out Putin going on in Poland. This is the kind of history that defies the best fiction writers.

[Duppers]

8. The Russian people are divided

Younger people know Putin's war is wrong.

[Duppers]

9. Have a link?

Putin should be ended. I still wonder what info Trump gave him and if our CIA even knows?

[Doremus]

25. The thing that worries me is how much our security agencies have been compromised.

The Secret Service, Capitol Police, FBI, NSA, DHS -- I've read at different points that agents from all of these have been involved in the insurrection. Orange anus isn't the question so much as who are these complicit agents so that we can put an end to their treason and once again have faith in our national security efforts.

[yonder]

3. I've read many accounts of conditions on the Russian lines.

One thing seems to be universally common: Their command always disappears before shelling begins and after promising food, water, ammo, comms, warm clothes, etc. which never arrive.

Hell on earth.

[blue-wave]

4. Here is the video mentioned in the article. They are shouting at Maj Gen Kirill Kulakov

Mutinying Russian conscripts surround general and shout 'Shame on you'

[sarge43]

10. That general was lucky he wasn't Mussolinied.

Or at least fragged.

[3Hotdogs]

17. But notice, he's standing there, looking unconcerned about the protesting soldiers.

[sarge43]

18. True enough

However, someday those grunts may come to the realization that "freedom is just another word for nothing left to lose".

[Hassin Bin Sober]

26. He may or may not be concerned.

Looks may be deceiving.

[turtleblossom]

28. Let me guess...Russian commanders tell their troops they're going out to use bathroom but runs away

[Skittles]

5. all these people dying for that miserable little bully Putin

W.T.F.

[James48]

6. This story is flying around Russian media.

I really think Arnold needs to do another video, translated into Russian, explaining what is really happening, and the huge number of deaths needlessly occurring.

He can make a difference- now would be a good time.

[Aussie105]

7. For those Russian conscripts who were not told:

Yes, the enemy will try to kill you.
It's a war.
Bad things happen in a war.

[niyad]

11. Somebody please finish him already!

[gab13by13]

12. It all depends who would replace Putin,

his replacement may be worse.

[Aristus]

20. That's a very valid concern.

But I keep thinking that if there was someone worse than Putin, he would have made his move by now.

[maxsolomon]

29. Worse than the worst person on the planet?

Stalin's replacement wasn't worse.

[modrepub]

13. If Things Are This Bad For Russian Troops Now

It can only get worse once winter sets in. Poor supplies and materials over a harsh winter could knock out more Russian soldiers than Ukraine bombs and bullets. If the winter goes as bad for the Russians as I think, a spring offensive by the Ukrainians could be quite impressive.

Guessing Putin is banking on a Republican take over and them cutting aid off to Ukraine forcing a negotiated peace from some point of strength. It's going to be decades before Russia recovers from this fiasco.

[Justice matters.]

21. Europe would ramp up support then.

Especially Germany and France.

We're not alone in this fight for democracy.

[brewens]

14. They are trapped and sitting ducks in a lot of places. It's the rainy season and mud makes movement

tough. They tore up many of the good roads. They can't escape in most vehicles now.

Wait until it gets really cold. Those drones will spot heat sources. It won't be safe to be in any heated shelter or near field kitchens. They are in for a world of hurt.

[oldsoftie]

15. "Sorry bout your damn luck". nt

[tavernier]

16. Too bad the big bad bare chested bear rider

doesn’t have the guts to get on the front line and show them how it’s done.

Nah. His only big thing is his mouth.

[Grimelle]

19. Oh well!

Who told you to invade a peaceful county.

[kimbutgar]

22. There is going to be a drop in births in their population

I wonder if Putin will start making women get drafted.

[keithbvadu2]

23. The only thing Putin supplies in abundance is transportation to the front

Little training, weapons, ammo, food, supplies, uniforms... The only thing Putin supplies in abundance is transportation to the front

[FakeNoose]

24. And don't forget the rolling crematories

Those went to the front also. Not so many dead soldiers coming back home.
"Sorry parents, we don't know what happened to your son. Maybe he went AWOL?"

[TomSlick]

27. It is unconscionable that Putin would send conscripts to the front armed only with shovels

and not enough shovels to go around.

Putin is a war criminal who is targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure. He is happy to murder children to advance his ambitions. He is feeding conscripts into the meat grinder. He has no concern for the deaths of a few thousand conscripts.

The solution lies in the hands of the Russian people. If there is a general strike, the oligarchs will take care of Putin. Jefferson was correct, governments - even the most tyrannical - exist only with the consent of the governed. The only question is how many Russians must die before the Russian people cease to consent, or at least acquiesce.