Putin’s troops ‘left to fight with shovels’ as Russia runs out of weapons
Putin's troops were reportedly left to fight with just shovels and firearms
Reuters
Russian troops are likely using only shovels and firearms for “hand-to-hand” combat in Ukraine, the UK’s Ministry of Defence has said.
In an update on Sunday, the UK department claimed that Vladimir Putin’s troops were ordered to attack a Ukrainian position armed with just a MPL-50 shovel - a tool that was designed in 1869 - late last month.
The MoD said it “highlights the brutal and low-tech fighting” that has characterised much of the war.
It said: “In late February 2023, Russian mobilised reservists described being ordered to assault a Ukrainian concrete strong point armed with only ‘firearms and shovels’.
Ukrainian army from the 43rd Heavy Artillery Brigade fire the German howitzer Panzerhaubitze 2000
Reuters
“The ‘shovels’ are likely entrenching tools being employed for hand-to-hand combat.
“The lethality of the standard-issue MPL-50 entrenching tool is particularly mythologised in Russia.
“Little changed since it was designed in 1869, its continued use as a weapon highlights the brutal and low-tech fighting which has come to characterise much of the war.
“One of the reservists described being ‘neither physically nor psychologically’ prepared for the action.
“Recent evidence suggests an increase in close combat in Ukraine.
“This is probably a result of the Russian command continuing to insist on offensive action largely consisting of dismounted infantry, with less support from artillery fire because Russia is short of munitions.”
The location of the battles where shovels were used is unknown.
Russian mercenary boss Yevgeny Prigozhin has blamed the recent shortage for the number of Russian deaths.
Russian mercenary boss Yevgeny Prigozhin says the recent shortage has caused a huge numbers of Russian deaths
Reuters
He recently posted an image of his dead troops in Ukraine as he called for ordinary Russians to help.
Last month he said in a message to his press service: “These are the guys who died yesterday because of so-called ‘shell shortages’.
“There are five times more of them than there should have been.”
Prigozhin called for Russians to demand the defence ministry gives ammunition to his troops but did not want it to resort to protests.