Putin ‘orders execution squads to kill HIS OWN men’ if they try to desert Ukraine invasion in brutal Stalinist tactic

VLADIMIR Putin has allegedly ordered execution squads to kill his own men if they try to desert his Ukraine invasion.

The Russian tyrant expected a swift quick victory when he ordered the invasion nearly a month ago - but his forces have faced fierce resistance from Ukrainian troops.

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In a brutal revival of Stalin's tactics, Ukrainian security services have reportedly been told by Russian prisoners that troops are followed by execution squads.

There have also been reports of Chechen special forces being sent in to stop Russian soldiers fleeing the war, according to the Daily Mail.

Since the start of Putin's invasion, Ukraine has released videos showing Russian captives – with some of the soldiers claiming they chose to quit rather than keep fighting.

Handwritten letters have also appeared, allegedly from Russian soldiers fighting in Ukraine, telling superior officers why they will not return.

A Russian tank commander told Ukrainian troops he wanted to defect after he was reportedly told he would be shot dead if he returned home.

A location was agreed and the Russian officer drove up in his tank before he was taken away by Ukrainian special forces.

Victor Andrusiv, an adviser to Ukraine's minister of internal affairs, said in a social media post: "It turned out that there was only one left from the tank crew, the rest escaped home.

"He didn’t see the point of war. He could not return home because his commander told him he would shoot him dead and say he died in battle.

"Misha told us that he had barely any food left, the command structure was chaotic and almost absent, morale is very low."

Andrusiv said the defector would be paid $10,000 and spend the rest of the war in "comfortable conditions" with a television, phone, kitchen and shower.

Denys Monastyrsky, the minister for internal affairs, said: "We are seeing cases of surrender when Russian troops voluntarily contact our military and declare that they want to surrender, that they do not take part in active hostilities."

Putin expected a quick victory when he invaded on February 23 - but thousands of his troops have been killed or injured, while hundreds have been captured.

The invasion has seen Russian pilots blasted out of the sky, tanks ambushed and videos of sobbing soldiers after surrendering to the Ukrainians.

There is now growing talk of defections, desertions and low morale among troops as the Russian tyrant's invasion plan stalls.

A Pentagon document reportedly described soldiers simply parking their vehicles and walking away from the fighting into woodland.

The Centre for Defence Strategies, a leading Ukrainian think-tank, said: "Russian forces are aware of the hopelessness of their situation and increasingly choosing desertion to avoid death."

RUNNING OUT OF SUPPLIES

Troops have been bogged down by Ukrainian resistance and lack proper amenities and medical supplies.

And Putin is now said to have been forced to call in reinforcements from the “depths” of Russia as he continues to lose his soldiers.

One soldier complained about his troops getting frostbite in an apparent intercepted phone call.

The disillusioned squaddie also complained about not having enough armour and being stuck outside Mykolaiv for days despite being promised a "swift" victory.

It comes amid reports that Russian troops could run out of food and ammunition in three days.

Ukraine's Ministry of Defence said this week: "According to the available information, Russian occupation forces operating on the territory of Ukraine have ammunition and food supplies for no more than three days.

"The situation is similar with fuel, which is replenished by tank trucks. The occupiers were unable to organise a pipeline to meet the needs of the grouping of troops." 

Ukraine claims to have killed around 15,000 Russian troops and to have destroyed a large amount of equipment.

And Russia has admitted it has lost nearly 10,000 troops in the invasion.

Oleksiy Arestovych, a Ukrainian presidential adviser, said the "active hostilities" between the two sides could end in just two to three weeks.

He said taking control of the capital Kyiv was still clearly a priority for Russia - but trying to do so would be "suicide" for Moscow.

Defence experts also claimed Putin could only have ten days to win the war in Ukraine before his forces buckle.

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