Russian Elite Unit Prepared for Bakhmut 'Slaughter' Amid Mutiny Fears

Russia is reportedly preparing its elite airborne forces, the VDV, to be deployed to hot spots in eastern Ukraine amid fears of a potential coup. A leaked secret memo obtained by Russian dissident Vladimir Osechkin suggests that the VDV could be sent to areas near Bakhmut in Ukraine's Donetsk region as "assault forces." The memo, addressed to Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov, asks for his consent. Bakhmut has been a site of intense fighting, and the alleged plan has raised concerns about the well-being of the troops and the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Newsweek has not been able to verify the authenticity of the memo.