Russian generals make millions by selling cannon fodder

The battle for Myrnohrad has become one of the most brutal engagements of the war, where Russian assaults collide with determined Ukrainian defense. Russian forces are throwing thousands of troops and armor into attempts to push into the town, yet every advance comes at a devastating cost. Ukrainian defenders continue to hold key positions, fighting from high-rises and residential strongpoints to block Russian encirclement attempts from the north and south. But the fighting has exposed more than battlefield losses: it has uncovered a widespread system of extortion and coercion inside the Russian army. Soldiers are being forced to pay their commanders to avoid being sent into suicidal assaults, while those who refuse are deliberately “reset” — a euphemism for execution or death missions. As the battle rages, Myrnohrad is not only a military struggle, but a harsh indictment of Russia’s collapsing chain of command and the human cost of corruption.

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