The Troubling Realities of Russia's Military Recruitment and Deployment.

Russian conscripts on the frontlines of the war in Ukraine are making videos directly addressed to Putin, asking for more support, aid, and reprieve amid a wave of attrition assaults. The trend comes amid the ongoing bloody and brutal battle of Bakhmut in the east. The soldiers beg for respite while resisting criticizing the war effort outright. The slew of recent videos seemingly supports reports suggesting that Russia is sending scores of so-called "shock troops" to their deaths to absorb Ukraine's better-trained, more valuable soldiers in the east. Putin has yet to publicly respond to the flood of videos.