Russian Soldiers Pretend To Get Married To Escape Ukraine War

Russian soldiers are trying to enter fake marriages in an attempt to escape the war in Ukraine, according to Ukrainian intelligence.

However, servicemembers were denied leave if their reason was to attend their wedding, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) said in a statement.

"I already asked a girl: 'Go apply to the registry office to register marriage.' But f--k! We were told: 'It's not a f-----g option,'" one Russian soldier told a friend during a telephone conversation that the SBU said it intercepted.

Control over Russian troops has been strengthened due to the number of those who refuse to fight, the soldier explained.

Now, Russian soldiers can only go back home in three cases, injury, their death or the death of a close relative, according to Ukraine's main intelligence and security agency.

The Russian Army has suffered significant damage in the invasion of Ukraine due to poor morale among its ranks, logistical problems and an underestimated Ukrainian resistance.

Russian soldiers have resorted to asking for help from human rights organizations and inflicting self-harm in a bid to flee the conflict, the SBU previously said.

Some servicemembers deliberately destroyed their own equipment, such as tanks, to avoid fighting, while others threatened their commanders when they were ordered to join the frontlines.

Under Russian military rules, troops who refuse to fight in the war can be dismissed, but they cannot be prosecuted.

"Commanders try to threaten their soldiers with prison time if they dissent, but we tell the soldiers that they can simply say no. There are no legal grounds to start a criminal case if a soldier refuses to fight while on Russian territory," lawyer Mikhail Benyash said.

In contrast to the situation of Russian forces, military leaders from the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) noted that morale among Ukrainian troops was contributing to Ukraine's continued defense against Russia.

"There are many lessons to be learned from the war in Ukraine. Most importantly, it has once again proven the importance of morale, to know what you are fighting for," Admiral Rob Bauer, chair of NATO’s Military Committee, was quoted as saying last month.

Russia suffered around 31,360 combat losses among its personnel between the start of the invasion in late February and Tuesday, Ukraine's Ministry of Defence said in its most recent casualty report.