Russian Unit Slams Leadership Following Heavy Losses In Donetsk

A military unit has sent a scathing letter to Russian leadership following heavy fighting in Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region, reports CNN.

The 155th Brigade of the Russian Pacific Fleet marines reportedly sent the letter to Oleg Kozhemyako, the governor of Primorsky Krai in Russia’s Far East, claiming military incompetence led to the loss of 300 killed and wounded, with some still missing, over the previous four days.

The letter writers accused officials of attempting to cover up the losses for “fear of being held accountable.”

The soldiers said Gen. Rustam Muradov, commander of the Russian Eastern Military District, and his brother, businessman-turned-politician Farkhad Akhmedov, threw the troops into an “incomprehensible battle” which led to disaster.

According to the letter, the unit also lost 50 percent of its equipment during the fighting.

Kozhemyako said that the deaths in the unit were exaggerated, and that the unit inflicted serious damage on Ukrainian forces.

The Russian Defense Ministry publicly denied the accusations in a statement, saying casualties did not exceed 1 percent of the unit.