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Territorial Defense Forces arriving from Ukraine’s west refusing to fight, says Russia

According to the Russian Defense Ministry, in the Soledar tactical group’s zone of responsibility, the servicemen of the 101th Ukrainian Territorial Defense Brigade headed to the tactical rear area on their own

MOSCOW, June 21. /TASS/. Ukrainian Territorial Defense Forces battalions, arriving from the West of the country for reinforcement, refuse to fight on the front line, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Tuesday.

"The reserves to replenish losses have been exhausted. Territorial Defense battalions, arriving from Ukraine’s western camps for reinforcement, refuse to move to the front line," the message said. For instance, the ministry pointed out that in the 57th Motorized Brigade, operating in Severodonetsk, in one of its battalions only 28 servicemen remained in the ranks, in the other only the command staff stayed on.

Moreover, more than 600 servicemen of the 101th Territorial Defense Brigade refused to take part in the hostilities. "In the Soledar tactical group’s zone of responsibility, the servicemen of the 101th Ukrainian Territorial Defense Brigade announced that they did not want to take part in the hostilities and headed to the tactical rear area on their own. More than 600 servicemen have bowed out," the Russian Defense Ministry said.

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