Russian Troops Disguise Themselves as Ukrainian Forces as War Losses Hit Highest Level Since World War II

Russian troops disguised themselves as Ukrainian soldiers during Operation Potok, using blue armbands similar to those worn by Ukraine’s military to maneuver undetected, according to a Russian airborne assault brigade commander.

The commander, identified by the call sign "Morpekh," told Russian state news agency TASS that the tactic allowed Russian forces to move forward for 5 to 10 minutes before Ukrainian troops realized the deception and began shelling their positions. The operation involved fighters from multiple Russian military units, including the 11th Guards Separate Airborne Assault Brigade, the 30th Regiment of the 72nd Motorized Rifle Division, and the Akhmat special forces detachment. They reportedly traveled 15 kilometers through a gas pipeline before emerging behind Ukrainian lines near Sudzha.

Russia’s Chief of the General Staff, Valery Gerasimov, reported that over 600 Russian personnel participated in the operation, which aimed to weaken Ukrainian defenses.

The move comes amid reports from the U.K. Ministry of Defence (MoD) estimating Russian military casualties at approximately 900,000 since the start of the war, marking the country’s highest wartime losses since World War II. The MoD stated that 200,000 to 250,000 of these casualties are estimated to be fatalities, with an 80%-90% probability that Moscow remains willing to sustain heavy losses to achieve its war objectives.

The intelligence update also noted that the war has disproportionately affected Russia’s ethnic minorities, with recruitment targeting impoverished regions, while Slavic Russians from cities like Moscow and St. Petersburg have contributed fewer soldiers.

Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin has rejected a U.S.-proposed 30-day ceasefire, despite Ukraine agreeing to it. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reported that Russia continued launching drone strikes, including over 40 attacks on Kyiv and surrounding areas. Reports suggest Moscow has agreed to halt attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure but has not committed to a complete ceasefire.

Former U.K. Defence Secretary Ben Wallace criticized the ceasefire proposal, warning that it would benefit Russia while it continues receiving foreign aid. He urged the U.K. to avoid what he called a "rotten Trump deal."