Russian forces attack Ukraine railway station amid claims of soldiers' growing refusal to fight
"I just received a report about the shelling in Kherson. The Russians hit the train station and an evacuation train," conveyed Volodymyr Zelensky. He added that approximately 140 people were waiting for the train when the attack occurred.
6:31 AM EST, December 27, 2023
The station building and the train both sustained damage. Passengers are currently in hiding.
"All of the relevant entities are already there, assessing the casualties. There were many civilians at the location," added the Ukrainian President.
Ukraine's Minister of Internal Affairs, Ihor Klymenko, quoted by Interfax-Ukraine, reported: "As a result of the shelling, a police lieutenant from the Kirovograd region, who had been serving in Kherson, was killed during the evacuation. We express our sympathy to the family and friends of the deceased. Additionally, two policemen are in hospital with shrapnel injuries."
Are Russian Soldiers Refusing to Participate in Attacks?
Oleksandr Shtupun, the Spokesperson for the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the Tavrida direction, reported that Russian soldiers are increasingly refusing to participate in assault operations and are surrendering to Ukraine in groups.
"There's an increasing number of occupiers refusing to participate in assault operations," the spokesperson was quoted as saying by RBK-Ukraine.
According to the spokesperson for the Tavrida direction forces, which covers the Zaporizhzhia region and the western part of the Donetsk region, entire groups of Russian soldiers are surrendering. Recently, six soldiers from one group surrendered after a brief skirmish, while another group laid down their weapons without a fight.
He mentioned that one reason for the increased number of soldiers surrendering is the "inhumane treatment" they receive from their command. The spokesperson added that soldiers are punished for refusal to participate in an assault or other offenses by being stripped naked, forced into so-called cold pits, beaten, and threatened with execution.
