The Russian army has put together “assault groups made up of walking wounded and directed them into combat,” according to a new assessment by the British Defense Ministry.

Newsweek has reached out to the Russian Defense Ministry for comment via email.

Why It Matters

Both Moscow and Kyiv have wrangled with how to keep up the number of troops available for operations as the grinding war in Ukraine continues. Moscow, however, while having a much larger pool of available recruits, is known for its infantry-led assaults and tactics that yield high casualty rates.

Russian sources have previously suggested Moscow was redeploying wounded fighters to the Ukrainian front lines before they could finish up medical treatment, sparking a riot among injured Russian soldiers refusing to head back to active combat.

What To Know

Russia’s military medical system has become “overburdened,” the British Defense Ministry said in its daily intelligence update, posted to social media on Sunday.

“It is highly likely injured Russian personnel are being returned to combat duties in Ukraine with unhealed wounds, often on crutches,” the British Defense Ministry said.

The U.K. government referenced footage widely circulated in recent weeks, appearing to show Russian soldiers on crutches heading toward the front lines. At least one clip has been attributed to Moscow’s 20th Combined Arms Army.

Open-source reports indicate these soldiers have become “part of assault groups made up of walking wounded,” the British ministry added.

According to figures published by Ukraine’s military on Monday, the Kremlin has sustained more than 841,000 casualties in nearly three years of full-scale war. Western intelligence estimates typically come in slightly lower, but broadly match the numbers put forward by Ukrainian officials.

More than 400,000 Russian soldiers have likely needed treatment for their injuries at medical facilities some distance from the front line, the U.K. said.

“The injured soldiers have likely been returned to their units after being discharged from forward medical facilities, prematurely, at the behest of their commanders,” the British government added.

This alleviates some of the pressure on the “overburdened military medical system,” according to the intelligence update.

Who Said What

The U.K. Defense Ministry in a post to X, formerly Twitter, on Sunday: “The lack of proper medical attention in facilities away from the front line necessitates the transfer of the administrative and medical burden back to troops’ units.”

What Happens Next

In the shadow of U.S. President Donald Trump‘s pledge to end the war in Ukraine, bitter fighting looks set to rage on as both Moscow and Kyiv jostle for an advantage in possible negotiations, with casualty counts set to continue to rise.