The war in Ukraine seems to be getting to Russian soldiers who feel disposable and some have been considering wounding themselves in order to leave the conflict, according to calls and messages Ukraine said it intercepted from Russian troops and commanders. 

Russian troops have allegedly referred to themselves as “cannon fodder” and compared their situation in Ukraine to “hell.” Russia, though,  has not publicly addressed the reports.

In fact, Russian fighters have been sharing tips with one another about how to deliberately damage their own equipment and hamper Russian President Vladimir Putin’s war plans. 

 “I don’t follow stupid orders, I simply refuse,” one fighter can be heard telling his comrade. “The motherf*cker sent me to tanks, motherf*cking piece of shit. I f*cked it up and that’s it.”

In one call the Security Service of Ukraine said it intercepted, a Russian soldier told an acquaintance in Russia that certain troops refused to begin a new offensive in Kharkiv.

Another Russian fighter told a family member that he and his comrades purposely damaged their tank—the last one left in their regiment—to interfere with an attack plan, as well, according to DailyBeast. 

“And they treat us here really tough in general, almost to the point of execution,” the soldier said. “We want to leave, but they don’t let us.” When asked why they refused, the soldier said, “Well, they send us directly to the front line, to real hell. There we’re cannon fodder…There is just the artillery…and to go under the artillery fire—it’s a f***ing suicide.”

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However, the Russian war effort isn’t only being hampered from the inside. Inspired by the Russians’ intercepted phone calls, Ukrainian government is encouraging other Russian troops to disobey orders and refuse to attack, echoing earlier calls to surrender and abandon the war path.

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Ukrainians have been putting up a stiff resistance, much to Russia’s President Vladimir Putin’s surprise.  

While figures vary, but one report at the end of April suggested that as many as 25,900 Russian soldiers have lost their lives in the war.