Russia deploys musicians to warfront to boost morale
Russia says that it will deploy musicians to the front lines of its war in Ukraine in a bid to boost morale of the soldiers.
The defence ministry announced the formation of the “front-line creative brigade” this week, saying it would include both vocalists and musicians.
The defence ministry of UK highlighted the brigade’s creation in an intelligence update on Sunday. Meanwhile, Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu visited frontline troops in Ukraine, the government said.
In a statement posted to Telegram, the defence minister Mr Shoigu said “flew around the areas of deployment of troops and checked the advanced positions of Russian units in the zone of the special military operation”.
It further added that he “spoke with troops on the frontline” and at a “command post” – but the BBC cannot confirm when the visit took place or whether Mr Shoigu visited Ukraine itself.
UK defence officials said low morale continues to be a “significant vulnerability across much of the Russian force”.
According to the UK the new creative brigade, which follows a recent campaign, urging the public to donate musical instruments to troops. It is in keeping with the historic use of “military music and organised entertainment” to boost morale.
But the question arises whether the new brigade would actually distract troops, who have been primarily concerned about “very high casualty rates, poor leadership, pay problems, lack of equipment and ammunition, and lack of clarity about the war’s objectives”.
According to the Russian outlet RBC news, the brigade will consist of troops which are mobilised under President Vladimir Putin’s recruitment drive, as well as “professional artists who voluntarily entered military service”.
The new unit will be tasked with maintaining “a high moral, political and psychological state [among] the participants of the special military operation,” the outlet cited the defence ministry as saying.
