Russian Soldiers on Crutches Return to Front Lines as Medical System Struggles

Overburdened Russian Military Healthcare Forces Injured Troops Back Into Combat

Britain's Defense Ministry says wounded Russian soldiers are returning to the battlefield on crutches due to an acutely strained military healthcare system of Russia. Wounded troops have returned prematurely to combat because, according to intelligence updates, Moscow is struggling to provide proper medical care.

Wounded Troops Form Assault Groups

The UK Ministry of Defence said, citing open-source reports, that Russian commanders were probably sending wounded soldiers back to the battlefield because of a decline in reinforcements. It mentioned the 20th Combined Arms Army, which has formed "assault groups" comprised of soldiers with unhealed wounds.

"There is a realistic possibility that Russian commanders are ordering this activity in an effort to retain personnel that would otherwise become a casualty within an over-stretched medical system," the ministry said.

Russia's Relentless Casualties Reveal Medical Crisis

It says that Kyiv estimates as many as 830,000 Russian soldiers have either been killed or wounded, including about **400,000 in need of treatment away from the battlefield. Only some of these troops are getting the kind of care, far away from combat, whereas a lot have already been let off duty far too early to join their troop formations.

The return of wounded soldiers to fighting not only helps relieve pressure on the military healthcare system but also enables commanders to monitor and mobilize them in performing operational assignments," the UK report said.

Viral Video Triggers Outrage

Several viral videos have shown Russian troops on crutches while deployed in Ukraine. Among them, a video shared by pro-Ukraine Telegram channels shows the injured soldiers as they make their way across an area forested near Pokrovsk, while another drone-captured clip in mid-January revealed two men on crutches across an open field before being targeted by munitions.

Military analysts also criticized the disquieting trend. The Russia war blogger, **Svyatoslav Golikov, called the practice an "entire wild disgrace," admitting injured soldiers are being sent into action, even when their physical constraints are considered--to a storm of positions.

In another incident to go viral, social media in Russia blew up in outrage after footage emerged of a man in military fatigues attacking two injured soldiers with a baton and stun gun. The attack prompted local authorities in Kyzyl, Tuva, to declare an investigation.

Russia Struggles to Maintain Troop Strength

With mounting losses and growing public discontent, Moscow has been aggressively ramping up enlistment incentives. New recruits are being offered higher sign-up bonuses and benefits, with some regions providing financial rewards rivaling those of the U.S. military.

Russia is also ramping up its military budget. In 2025, nearly a third of its federal spending—13.5 trillion rubles ($135 billion)—will go toward defense, despite Western sanctions isolating the nation’s economy.

Conclusion: A Desperate Move in a Prolonged War

The redeployment of wounded soldiers indicates that the strain on Russia's war effort is indeed deepening. When Moscow is eager to fill up its forces, such an action may have a highly negative impact on matters regarding morale and warfare effectiveness in general.