The Russian medical system is likely operating at its limits, as military personnel are increasingly seen on crutches at the front lines, reports Business Insider citing British intelligence.

According to the UK Ministry of Defence, numerous observations confirm that injured Russian soldiers are being sent back into combat as the medical assistance system is overwhelmed.

The intelligence report published on Sunday states: "It is highly likely that injured Russian servicemen are being returned to combat tasks in Ukraine with unhealed wounds, often on crutches."

In particular, the 20th Combined Arms Army is mentioned, which, according to British intelligence, may have formed "assault groups" from wounded soldiers.

"There is a realistic possibility that Russian commanders are directing this activity to retain personnel who would otherwise be lost in an overloaded medical system," the report indicates.

The British defense ministry also refers to Ukrainian estimates, which suggest that 830,000 Russian soldiers have been killed or wounded during the war, of which about 400,000 require treatment outside the combat zone.

The report states: "Wounded soldiers have likely been returned to their units after being prematurely discharged from forward medical points, at the direction of their command." This practice, according to intelligence, "reduces the burden on the overloaded military medical system and enhances the unit's ability to track and utilize injured servicemen for operational tasks."

Furthermore, the report notes that the lack of proper medical care in facilities located further from the front line necessitates shifting administrative and medical burdens back onto military units.

The British assessment of the situation came after the release of video materials on Ukrainian Telegram channels, which captured Russian soldiers on crutches in wooded areas near Pokrovsk. Other videos showed injured soldiers complaining about the conditions of deployment.

In mid-January, Ukrainian sources released drone footage showing two soldiers on crutches in an open field near Pokrovsk. The drone dropped munitions on them, likely rendering them combat ineffective.

However, it remains unclear what specific injuries these soldiers sustained prior to the drone strike and whether they were engaged in combat or simply moving between positions.

"A Complete Shame"

These images sparked discussions in Russia. Military blogger Svyatoslav Golikov harshly criticized the practice of sending injured personnel to the front lines in his January post, calling it "a complete shame."

"In particularly egregious cases, clear cripples can even be sent to storm, but more often they are dispatched to reinforce just-captured positions," he added.

Golikov speculated that the soldiers in the video were without gear and weapons because Russian troops often have to find equipment themselves at the front.

The negative reaction to the treatment of the wounded intensified after the circulation of another video in mid-January, in which a man in military uniform beats two injured Russians with a baton and uses a stun gun on them.

Authorities in Kyzyl (Tuva, Russia) reported to Russian media that they have begun an investigation into this incident.

Signs of resource shortages in the Russian army are becoming increasingly evident, as the war turns into a competition where Kyiv and Moscow strive to outdo each other in troop numbers and weaponry supplies.

To replenish its ranks, the Kremlin is increasing bonuses and social benefits for recruits, and in some regions, financial incentives for contract soldiers have nearly matched American military payments.

In 2025, Russia plans to allocate nearly a third of the federal budget—13.5 trillion rubles (approximately 135 billion dollars at the current exchange rate)—for defense, occurring amid the country's economic isolation due to Western sanctions.

Personnel Issues in Russia

As previously reported by UNIAN, Putin ordered the sending of summons to reservists. He stated that this is necessary for "improving combat skills." According to lawyer Artem Klig, of the Russian Refusenik Movement, this may be related to the "need for personnel" due to the "exhaustion of the Russian army."

At the same time, Russia is trying to avoid mass mobilization to prevent harming the political regime, thus purchasing mercenaries from other countries. This opinion was expressed by retired SBU Colonel and military counterintelligence expert Mikhail Pritula.

To avoid protests, Russians are trying to recruit volunteers through contracts, offering them substantial payments. However, this cannot continue indefinitely, believes retired Ukrainian Armed Forces Major Alexey Hetman, as the financial resources of the Russians are insufficient.