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PaperclipPerfector  1yr ago (text post)   28717 thread views

Culture War Roundup for the week of October 23, 2023

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Russia executing own retreating soldiers, US says

Russia is executing soldiers who try to retreat from a bloody offensive in eastern Ukraine, the White House has said. According to the US, some of the casualties suffered by Russia near Avdiivka were "on the orders of their own leaders".

Russian and Ukrainian troops have been locked into a fierce battle for the frontline town since mid-October. Russia is thought to have suffered "significant" losses in this time. Ukrainian estimates put the number of Russian casualties in Avdiivka at 5,000, while the US says that Russia lost "at least" 125 armoured vehicles and more than a battalion's worth of equipment.

Do you believe the primary claim in this article (from the Pentagon)? If so, or if not, why? If you think the claim is a lie, do you think it originates with American or Ukrainian propagandists. If you think the claim is true, do you think Russia’s actions are likely to have a positive or negative effect on Russian troop morale moving forward?

I’m interested in how our prejudices and priors developed over the last year and half of this war - and more generally - affect our judgment when we hear stories reporting by one side like this. What would it take for you to believe or disbelieve the claim?

I was under the impression that summary execution for desertion is standard operating procedure for Russia. There is video of Prigozhin telling potential Wagner recruits they will shot on sight if they desert.

Russian morale will continue to reside in the toilet, as it always does.

Wagner recruits from prisons, service for freedom. Civilian volunteers may get more sympathy.

Russia has an active, formal draft and has been reported to use informal press gangs which we can presume are not targeting respectable citizens. ‘Civilian volunteer’ is probably not a great descriptor of the median Russian soldier.

The Russian army recruits from prisons as well and now that Wagner no longer is a thing in Ukraine they're the only ones that do so.

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