My Morality Ends?
Outnumbered Ukrainians put Russians to flight
Video footage from Kherson shows Russian soldiers fleeing when their position is attacked – despite clearly outnumbering them.
The morale of the Russian soldiers seems to be completely gone. A video from the recently liberated Cherson in southern Ukraine makes this impression. The recording shows how a Ukrainian infantry fighting vehicle – completely alone – is heading for a fortified Russian position. The position is on a drained irrigation canal.
Shells explode near the tank but miss it. Shortly before the position, five to six Ukrainian soldiers jump from the tank and charge towards the fortification while firing their guns.
Suddenly they flee
What happens then is surprising: Despite the numerical superiority, some of the 20 to 25 Russian defenders leave their positions. Only three to five Russians put up resistance. Meanwhile, a little more than ten Russian soldiers just watch – without intervening. But even they flee as soon as the first Ukrainian soldier reaches the position.
Even experts are amazed at the events shown. The attack was “incredible” and “breathtaking to the last moment,” writes Czech paratrooper Ivo Zelinka on Twitter. German military historian Jorit Wintjes notes on Twitter that attacking outnumbered or directly targeting the enemy position actually violates the conventions of warfare. The video shows that morale is the best force multiplier “since organized conflict was invented”. (bab)