Russian servicemen have complained of being used as "cannon fodder" as Vladimir Putin continues to send young men to the slaughter in Ukraine.
One Russian soldier - who was one of the 400 former inmates recruited from Russia's prisons - has told Ukrainian media how their Wagner Group commander sent them forward to "scout" ahead as the experienced troops waited in the wings.
He said: "We are being used as cannon fodder. Our commander sent us forward, at first we were walking alongside, but when we looked back, they were very far behind.