Russian Morale 'Exceedingly Low' Amid 'Significant Losses,' Desertion: ISW

The Russian military's morale is "exceedingly low" following "significant losses" in Ukraine's Donbas region, according to a new report from the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).

The think tank's assessment Wednesday of the Russian offensive indicated that troop desertion, inadequate preparation for battle and casualties had all contributed to poor mental health among Russian soldiers in Donetsk and Luhansk, both areas that Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed to have annexed in late September.

Ukrainian counteroffensives have since resulted in Russian troops being driven out of a significant amount of territory in the region. The ISW research, which cites multiple Russian media reports, says that hundreds of Russian soldiers hoping to avoid the war are in hiding at the moment in at least seven locations in Donetsk and Luhansk.

"The morale and psychological state of Russian forces in the Luhansk and Donetsk oblasts are exceedingly low," ISW says. "Significant losses on the battlefield, mobilization to the front lines without proper training, and poor supplies have led to cases of desertion."

"Russian authorities are holding about 300 Russian mobilized men in a basement in Zaitseve, Luhansk Oblast, for refusing to return to the front lines," it continues. "[Russian media outlet] ASTRA reported it has identified at least seven such holding locations in the Luhansk and Donetsk oblasts for Russian citizens."

The report goes on to say that Igor Artamonov, governor of Russia's Lipetsk region, had "reported that relatives of mobilized personnel specifically appealed to him about poor conditions near Svatove, Luhansk."

Artamonov reportedly said that troops had suffered "severe losses" and were not properly trained or given adequate equipment before being sent to the front lines.

ISW also said Russia is continuing attempts to draft new troops inside occupied Ukraine by conducting "a door-to-door mobilization effort in Kadiivka" and extorting residents of Luhansk into joining the military.

Putin's partial mobilization of 300,000 Russian reservists, which supposedly concluded at the end of October, sparked considerable backlash. Criticisms have included claims that draftees were in poor physical condition, too old to fight and provided with poor training and few weapons or supplies.

Russia has show little tolerance for dissent within its military. A video clip recently circulating on social media purportedly shows Russian draftee Alexander Leshkov confronting an officer over a failure to "supply and train mobilized soldiers" adequately. Leshkov was criminally charged in the act of defiance and could face up to 15 years in prison.

The Russian military has also been threatening to fatally shoot conscripts who attempt to desert their posts, according to the British Ministry of Defense. The ministry predicted this week that cold weather in the coming months could result in Russian troops' morale sinking even further.

Newsweek has reached out to the Russian Ministry of Defense for comment.