Traumatised mothers of Russian soldiers say their sons who refuse to fight for Kremlin are being held in torture pits
- Maksim Kochetkov, 20, is being held in a penal colony 6,000 miles from home
- He says he is being punished for defying Vladimir Putin’s order to attack Ukraine
- Russian media claims around 1,793 soldiers such as Maksim are refusing to fight
- Many are being held by mercenaries in crammed basements and ‘torture pits’Maksim Kochetkov is being held captive in a penal colony 6,000 miles from his home on an island near Japan – one of the rising number of Russian troops who are prisoners of a war they do not wish to fight.
The 20-year-old is being punished for defying Vladimir Putin’s order to attack Ukraine – like thousands more Russian soldiers, often recruited from outlying and poorer parts of Russia.
His plight underscores the claim by defence officials in the United States last week that there are ‘increased signs of discipline and morale problems in the Russian army’.
FULL ARTICLE AT: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11065199/Traumatised-mothers-Russian-soldiers-say-sons-refuse-fight-held-torture-pits.html