Russia Sends “Disposable Soldiers” Into Battle With No Helmets and No Armor

Russia is increasingly sending assault troops into battle without helmets or body armor, particularly along the Lyman axis in eastern Ukraine, according to The Telegraph on November 29.

Ukrainian commanders report that this tactic—previously sporadic—has become widespread over the past several months.

According to The Telegraph, Ukrainian forces have released video evidence showing Russian soldiers advancing on Ukrainian positions without basic protective equipment.

Many are killed before reaching cover. Igor Komok, deputy commander of the 2nd Mechanized Battalion of Ukraine’s 66th Brigade, told the outlet that “out of 20 assault groups observed recently, only four had helmets.”

Ukrainian defenders state that Russia continues to rely on mass infantry assaults despite heavy losses. These operations are sometimes supported by drones or even motorcycles. The attacks are frequent and often conducted under poor operational conditions.

The Telegraph also cited testimonies from Russian soldiers, who say that troops can be punished for minor infractions—such as carrying only one liter of water instead of two—by being transferred into assault units.

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Once there, soldiers are often sent forward without proper equipment and, in some cases, without weapons. They are reportedly ordered to retrieve gear from fallen comrades during combat.

Soldiers described being forced to eat tree bark due to a lack of supplies and being accused of extortion when requesting food. The discipline imposed by commanders does not appear to extend to ensuring basic logistical support or battlefield survivability.

Dmytro Zhmailo, director of the Ukrainian Center for Security and Cooperation, confirmed to The Telegraph that such practices are not isolated to Lyman but are observed across multiple sectors of the front.

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He attributes the lack of equipment to both high casualty rates and Russia’s broader economic difficulties, which limit the state’s ability to supply its forces with essential gear.

Zhmailo also said the use of inadequately equipped personnel reflects the Russian military’s reliance on expendable forces and the continued use of high-casualty tactics.

“The scale of losses has exceeded the supply capacity of the Russian military,” he noted, pointing to widespread reports of injured or unarmed soldiers being redeployed directly to the front lines.

Earlier reports from Ukrainian intelligence indicated that Russia has been sending mentally disabled and medically unfit men to the front lines. Footage and military accounts described disoriented, emaciated soldiers with severe psychiatric conditions being forced into combat, often perishing shortly after deployment.

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