For months now, there has been plenty of talk about just how desperate Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has become, as the myth of Moscow’s military might continues to unravel before our very eyes.
We’ve seen the Ukrainian army simply dismantle Russia’s weak and unorganized lines, all the while witnessing mutinies, desertions, and surrenders aplenty.
Now, with Russian morale crashing harder than ever before, the Kremlin is trying something even more pathetic than many could imagine.
Russia says it will deploy musicians and singers to the front lines of its war in Ukraine to boost troops’ morale.
The defence ministry announced the formation of the “front-line creative brigade” this week, saying it would also include circus performers.
The UK’s Ministry of Defence highlighted the brigade’s creation in an intelligence update on Sunday.
Meanwhile, Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu visited frontline troops in Ukraine, Moscow said.
In a statement posted to Telegram, the defence ministry said Mr Shoigu “flew around the areas of deployment of troops and checked the advanced positions of Russian units in the zone of the special military operation”, referring to Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine launched on 24 February.
And, to add insult to injury, it appears as though the Kremlin has been caught in a lie here.
The ministry added that he “spoke with troops on the front line” and at a “command post” – but the BBC cannot confirm when the visit took place or whether Mr Shoigu visited Ukraine itself.
Commenting on Mr Shoigu’s reported visit, Ukraine’s military spokesman Serhiy Cherevatyi told Ukrainian TV channels: “I don’t really believe that he is so brave” to travel to the battlefield.
Meanwhile, back in Moscow there are n increasing number of experts suggesting that Putin may very well be facing a coup of sorts as his unpopular and unwinnable war continues well into the winter.
