Ukraine accuses Russian soldiers of ‘fake marriage’ to escape the battlefield

The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) claims it has an audio recording of a conversation between a Russian soldier and his friend, who are talking about another comrade who failed to find a way out of Ukraine.

“There is no other choice: Only get wounded, killed or get official orders to retreat.” said the unnamed soldier.

The soldier said that his other comrade had tried all the options. He himself thought of a fake marriage as the solution.

The man said over the phone: “I said to a female friend of mine, ‘Can you go to the registrar’s office and apply for the marriage license?'”

“But she said, ‘Impossible. I can’t help you with this.'”

The SBU said that as the conflict entered its fourth month, there were signs that Russian morale was declining, and that more and more people wanted to leave Ukraine.

However, the SBU added that Russian commanders are restricting the leave of their troops, especially as so many fighters are looking for reasons to return to Russia.

Military analysts say that Russian forces are being “exaggerated” and that the country will soon run out of combat-ready units.

Some fighters also refused to go to Ukraine at the start of hostilities, according to the SBU. Specific numbers were not disclosed, but last month a Russian court ordered the dismissal of more than 100 National Guard officers who refused to deploy the operation to Ukraine in February 2022.

The Russian side has yet to comment on the SBU’s statement.