Yes, it is getting worse still in Eastern Ukraine.

[reorg]

23. not at all, you can use all sources while keeping in mind their likely bias

What is happening here, however, is that Russian sources are dismissed immediately, as if on principle, and that is a clear sign of willful blindness. The information in the OP, for instance, was almost word by word also reported by other sources (for examples see my other post below). Obviously, without even doing a quick web search, a number of posters feel prompted to point out RT=lies - and forego any thought on what is actually happening and how it may affect the people on the ground there and even us at some point.

The news about the "defectors" may be a "propaganda boon" for those who support the resistance against the current "government". And it may still be exactly right. Fact is, a relatively large number of Ukrainian soldiers could not get out of their "cauldron" except by crossing the border to Russia. Their supply lines were cut. Fact is also, that a number of them already are on their way back to Ukraine (reported by Russian media and RT, not disputed by others).

The Russian foreign minister has "suggested" that some of the others may prefer to stay in Russia, since they must be tired to fight against compatriots. Some Russian reports have said they applied for asylum. We'll see if that's true, it's not implausible at all since tens or hundreds of thousands have already fled from Ukraine to Russia.