Dozens of Russian soldiers have staged a mutiny and refused to fight in Ukraine, it has been reported.
Around 60 paratroopers had been stationed at their Pskov headquarters in northern Russia before they were moved to Belarus as part of the invasion.
However, they refused to follow orders and were sent back to their Russian base in disgrace.
According to reports in Russia, the 'elite' servicemen have now been branded 'cowards' by some and could face lengthy prison sentences.
Advert
The Russian opposition outlet Pskovskaya Guberniya said: "About 60 servicemen from Pskov refused to go to war on Ukrainian territory, according to our sources.
"After the first days of the war, they were first brought to the Republic of Belarus, and then they returned to their base in Pskov.
"Most of them are currently being dismissed, but some are threatened with criminal cases."
Advert
This isn't the first time there have been reports of serious problems in the Russian camp.
Russian soldier Vladimir Safronov was captured recently by the Ukrainian military and spoke about the problems facing troops.
The 23-year-old said: "Things are bad with food, we are constantly saving it.
"Very often we have a situation that a ration for one person is shared between two people.
Advert
"We are eating mostly what we find inside [civilian] houses [in occupied Ukraine]."
As well as issues with rations, he also claimed that officers had been seen looting civilian properties.
Safronov went on: "There is a lot of looting, I've personally seen it.
Advert
"I don't support it, it was mainly senior sergeants and the commander who did it…
"I saw civilians who were hiding, people who were unable to evacuate, who lived in constant fear.
"I felt awfully sorry for them, it was scary to find them."
And back in February, just days into the war, reports also came out that Russian troops were becoming disoriented, demoralised and had in some cases been cut off from supply chains.
Advert
Reports at the time suggested soldiers had been surprised by the strength of opposition from Ukrainians, with officials as well as local residents claiming troops appeared confused by the nature of their mission.
One senior US official told ABC News soldiers had been heard complaining over the radio, saying: "We don’t know who to shoot – they all look like us."
And one resident in the western city of Lviv told iNews that many of the rank and file troops 'don’t know why they are on our land'.
If you would like to donate to the Red Cross Emergency Appeal, which will help provide food, medicines and basic medical supplies, shelter and water to those in Ukraine, click here for more information
Topics: Russia, Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, Vladimir Putin, Politics
Dominic Smithers