Russian invasion

Russian invasionRussian reactions
Russians are found dead around the world - the list goes on

One was found hanged in London, another drowned in Puerto Rico, a third shot in Spain. Russian after Russian has been found dead under mysterious circumstances since the start of the war in Ukraine, writes the Wall Street Journal in a report.

The WSJ notes that the Wikipedia page "Suspected Deaths of Russian Businessmen (2022-2024)" so far lists 51 names, although some of them may have died of natural causes.

The deaths have prompted Ukraine to open the "I want to live" hotline aimed at Russian soldiers who want to desert. According to Ukraine, over 260 Russians have switched sides through the hotline and over 26,000 calls have been received. The newspaper cannot verify the figures.

The Russian army works very actively to prevent deserters and Putin has promised to hunt down anyone who switches sides.

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The Russian InvasionThe Battles
Former ÖB: I see no military solution to the war

Ukraine has weak leadership and Russia has learned from its mistakes. That is former Commander-in-Chief Johan Hederstedt's explanation for the fact that the Russians currently have wind in their sails in the war.

In an interview with SvD, Hederstedt says that there is a superstition that more artillery will save Ukraine. He believes that what is coming will only "stop the bleeding".

- I see no military solution to the war. Neither Russia nor Ukraine can win, he says.

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The Russian InvasionThe Battles
The soldiers on the last day in Avdijivka: "The road of death"

The Ukrainian retreat from Avdijivka was panic-stricken, and to the last Ukrainian forces rushed the town in a desperate attempt to keep the Russians out. The Washington Post has spoken to seven soldiers about the days in February when Avdijivka fell into Russian hands.

Major, 21, had recently returned to the front when Russian artillery fire began to rain down on Avdijivka. When his group finally abandoned the city, he saw the convoy in front of them hit and burst into flames.

- They were people my own age, between 20 and 30 years old. It was the road of death, the very last one from Avdijivka.

24-year-old Fedya tells the newspaper that he was so high on adrenaline at the retreat that it pushed all other feelings away. Had they waited another hour, the evacuation would have been impossible, he adds.

- It would not have made sense to hold on until everyone was dead, he says.