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Alcohol Abuse and Violence—Russian Troops Face Moral Collapse on Kupiansk Front
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The ATESH partisan movement has reported a sharp deterioration in morale among Russian troops operating on the Kupiansk axis, citing mounting losses and internal breakdown within units.
According to a statement published on April 14, an agent embedded in a unit of Russia’s 1st Tank Army described the psychological condition of personnel as critical, with troops facing sustained pressure after more than two years of continuous combat.
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The report alleges that cases of suicide among soldiers are being deliberately concealed, with deaths reportedly classified as “combat losses” or “accidental weapon incidents.” Commanders are said to avoid reporting such cases out of concern for disciplinary consequences.
“Alcohol has become the only way to cope psychologically: homemade liquor and cheap substitutes are making their way into units through fellow soldiers. Personnel are carrying out their duties while intoxicated, and commanders are no longer reacting to it,” the source said, according to ATESH.
Incidents of internal violence have also increased, according to the report, with tensions between officers and subordinates escalating into physical confrontations, at times involving weapons.
“Rotation is absent. There is no rest. There is zero support. People are simply breaking,” the agent said.
These accounts are reinforced by additional reports from the ATESH partisan movement, which point to severe discipline breakdowns among Russian command structures.
In a separate, the group reported that officers in some units have been issuing orders while heavily intoxicated and lacking a clear understanding of the battlefield situation—practices that have reportedly contributed to some of the highest losses seen since the start of fighting.
According to an ATESH agent embedded with the 4th Battalion of Russia’s 74th Motorized Rifle Brigade, platoon and company commanders regularly consume alcohol at forward positions near the front line. Rank-and-file soldiers reportedly confirm that orders are often given while officers are inebriated and disconnected from operational realities.
“Casualties in the ‘alco-battalion’ amount to up to 100 killed and wounded per month—significantly more than in other units,” the agent said, according to ATESH.
The reported alcohol abuse within military units reflects a broader pattern of social strain inside Russia.
According to the Center for Countering Disinformation, the country recorded 627,900 serious and especially serious crimes in 2025—the highest figure in the past 15 years—highlighting a worsening internal security situation.
Analysts say the increase in violent crime has continued for a third consecutive year and is closely tied to Russia’s war against Ukraine. A growing number of combatants, including former prisoners recruited for the front, are returning to civilian life and becoming involved in criminal cases ranging from murder and armed robbery to violent assaults and drug trafficking.
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