Russia Executes Soldiers Who Refuse to Comply With Orders, White House Says

Ukrainian soldiers ride on an armoured vehicle near the recently retaken town of Lyman in Donetsk region on Oct. 6, 2022, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Yasuyoshi Chiga/AFP via Getty Images

Russia is executing soldiers who do not comply with orders and threatens entire units with death if they flee the Ukrainian battlefield, the White House said on Thursday.

This is the latest allegation of instability in Moscow’s military leadership 20 months into its war against Ukraine.

“Russia’s mobilized forces remain undertrained, underequipped, and unprepared for combat,” National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said.

“As was the case during their failed winter offensive last year, the Russian military appears to be using what we would call ‘human wave tactics’—just throwing masses of these poorly trained soldiers right into the fight, no proper equipment, no leadership, no resourcing, no support.”

Mr. Kirby added that it is hardly a surprise to witness a decline in the morale of Russian forces considering the multitude of challenging circumstances they’re facing on the frontlines.

When asked by a reporter to elaborate on the execution of Russian soldiers, Mr. Kirby said he’s “not qualified to answer that question.”

He proceeded to say that the execution of soldiers and issuance of death threats are clear indications of Russian military leaders’ desperateness in making progress and mishandling of pressure on the battlefield.

US Vows Continued Support for Ukraine

Mr. Kirby also reiterated America’s support for Ukraine in its defense against Russia’s full-scale invasion.

Mr. Kirby referred to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s claim that Ukraine would not be able to last longer than a week without Western military and financial support.

“So, to ensure that we can continue to do that, it’s critical that Congress step up and pass the supplemental request that the president put forward last week, which included a significant amount of resources for Ukraine for their self-defenses, for their humanitarian and economic needs,” he said.

The U.S. Department of Defense has stepped up its support for Ukraine with an additional assistance package valued up to $150 million, according to a statement on Oct. 26.

The Pentagon revealed that the latest U.S. assistance encompasses additional munitions for national advanced surface-to-air missile systems, AIM-9M missiles for air defense, stinger anti-aircraft missiles, additional ammunition for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, and 155 mm and 105 mm artillery rounds.

Tube-Launched, Optically-Tracked, Wire-Guided missiles were part of the assistance package, along with Javelin anti-armor systems, over 2 million rounds of small arms ammunition, night vision devices, demolitions munitions for obstacle clearing, and cold-weather gear.

“Security assistance for Ukraine is a smart investment in our national security,” the Pentagon said. “It helps to prevent a larger conflict in the region and deter potential aggression elsewhere, while strengthening our defense industrial base and creating highly skilled jobs for the American people.”

War Outcomes Might Influence China’s Behavior

The Pentagon’s announcement comes amid growing uncertainty over U.S. aid for Ukraine.

Some U.S. politicians said it’s crucial to continue military assistance to Ukraine as the outcome of the war would extend far beyond Eastern Europe. It’s likely to influence China’s conduct toward its neighboring countries.

“I don’t know what [Chinese leader] Xi Jinping is going to do, but neither does anyone else. Perhaps he doesn’t even know what he’s going to do. But I can guarantee you one thing: the leadership of the Communist Party of China is watching what happens in Ukraine,” Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) told the Center for European Policy Analysis.

According to Mr. Wicker’s estimation, if Ukraine attains victory in the war against Russia’s invasion, it will discourage Mr. Xi from engaging in recklessness and aggressive actions in the Indo-Pacific.

“We are hoping that success in Ukraine for the forces of freedom dissuades conflict in the Pacific,” he said.