The single-use soldier" - How the Russian army is running out cannon-fodder recruits for Ukraine

Russia has run out of single-use soldiers and cannot rely on the "human wave" attacks in eastern Ukraine, which have been a part of its recent offensives. This is according to British military intelligence.

Anecdotal evidence suggests that Russia is reducing human wave-style attacks, a barbaric tactic which requires large numbers untrained soldiers. This is as Russia's recruitment of prisoners in Russian prisons has fallen.

According to Russia's Federal Penitentiary Service, there was a significant drop in prison population last year. This was due to Wagner's recruitment drive, but the latest figures released this week suggest that prison recruitment has slowed down at the end.

The human wave tactic was first seen in Bakhmut, an eastern Ukrainian town where heavy fighting has been raging since October. It was also visible around Soledar, where Wagner was able score a rare Russian victory last year.

The Russian forces tried to flood the battlefield with densely packed soldiers, a tactic that was used in the First World War to overwhelm the enemy. Ukrainian commanders have called the former prisoners "single use soldiers" as a result of this tactic.

Bakhmut's territorial defense member identified as "Georgian" said to a Ukrainian military TV channel, in a documentary released this week, that the Russian army often sends its soldiers into battle even if it means they are under friendly fire.

In a statement, the Russian businessman attempted to make fun of the charges against him and the official summons to him to come to Kyiv as a witness. Instead, he invited Ukrainian officials to visit him at the front line.

Although Mr. Prigozhin has not spoken publicly about "human wave" attacks, he has made it clear that he was playing Russian roulette on his front line in a bid to secure a pardon if they survive the slaughterhouse of war.

Although the Russian military has not admitted to sending troops in such a reckless way, one official at the Russian military headquarters that directed the invasion said yesterday that the Kremlin's push to launch a major offensive against eastern Ukraine is forcing them "to mince meat to satisfy high command".