Russia’s army has been hit by a growing wave of mutiny and desertions in the Kupiansk direction, according to reports. Troops are reported to have shot their commanders, seized vehicles and fled the frontlines as they desperately try to escape the battlefield slaughter.

Putin’s forces have struggled for months to break Ukrainian defensive lines in the Kharkiv region, and have suffered massive casualties – particularly in an area dubbed the Pischane funnel. Here, Ukraine‘s military has successfully been able to control its flanks, which has allowed it to hit Russian assault units with an unrelenting and deadly barrage of drone and artillery fire.

Despite the daily massacres, Russian commanders have continued to throw their soldiers into the meat grinder, in the hope of achieving a breakthrough.

The systematic nature of these assaults has been likened to mass execution, with soldiers pushed forward not for tactical gain but to serve as human battering rams.

The senseless slaughter on the frontlines has driven some Russian soldiers to take extreme action against their brutal senior officers.

Several infantrymen shot and killed a platoon commander and two of his subordinates in a violent act of mutiny.

The deserters left their comrades to die on the road, while fleeing to save their lives from both Ukrainian and Russian fire.

The shootings have sparked a massive manhunt by Russia‘s military police, who are desperately trying to track down the culprits.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian forces say Russian troops on the Lyman front are surrendering in droves, as they run out of ammunition and food.

Rostyslav Yashchishyn, a soldier from the 63rd Mechanised Brigade, told the media outlet ArmyInform agency that the Russians were no longer prepared to fight.

The Russian units had been abandoned by their commanders and left to fend for themselves , eventually running out of water, food and ammunitions.

The prisoners told their Ukrainian captors they had spent days chewing bitter grass, hoping for drops of morning dew.

Many fought until the very end, but realising they had been abandoned, they eventually emerged with their hands up.

Russian commanders have become renowned for their brutal treatment of their soldiers, reserving their cruellest punishments for those refusing to fight anymore.

In a horrifying video released to social media channels, a Russian refusnik is tortured by his officers.

The unfortunate soldier is tied by the neck with a chain and put in a dog kennel, and taunted with food placed just out of reach of his mouth.