Russian soldiers repeatedly complain about the war conditions in Ukraine. A virus is now apparently causing additional problems for the troops.
The winter war is currently presenting the Russian and Ukrainian troops with even greater challenges than they already do: because of the mud, vehicles and fighters are making progress much more difficult or not at all; the cold pushes the soldiers to their limits. Now there is another limitation: mouse fever, which is said to be spreading primarily among the Russian army in the Kharkiv region. This is reported by the Defense Intelligence Service of Ukraine (GRU) on the short message service Telegram. What is behind the disease?
According to Ukrainian authorities, mouse fever, also known as rat or rat bite fever, initially resembles flu. Rodents transmit the virus to humans, for example when dust from mouse droppings is inhaled or gets into food that soldiers eat. The US agency Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also explains that a person can become infected if they are bitten by a mouse or if infected mouse or rat urine gets into wounds. Symptoms include vomiting, severe headaches, fever up to 40 degrees, skin rashes, redness, drop in blood pressure and nausea.
Can be fatal
The disease can also affect the kidneys and cause severe pain in the lower back; Urinating can also be painful. In some cases, the virus can also cause death, according to the CDC. According to the Ukrainian authorities, Russian commanders are said to have ignored the symptoms – which in turn is said to have increased dissatisfaction among the troops. According to the Ukrainians, mouse fever has significantly reduced the Russians’ ability to fight.
The information could not initially be independently verified. But Russian units’ criticism of the military leadership continues to make its way to the public: Most recently, soldiers begged for home leave in a video. They criticized Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu for not having had a single day off since July. Read more about the demands here.
Video | Rat plague plagues Ukraine
Quelle: t-online
“You will die in this pit you live in”
Last month, recordings of conversations between Russian fighters and their relatives were made public, as reported by The Independent, among others.
The soldiers complained about the conditions at the front. One man reported that he lived on rainwater. Another said in a telephone conversation with his mother that his life meant nothing to the leadership in Moscow. They were not allowed to leave, even if they were sick or wounded, because the commanders feared that they would not come back. “You will die in this pit you live in,” the man lamented. “I hope you don’t get sick,” replied the mother.
The risk of becoming ill now appears higher because of mouse fever. However, it is unclear exactly how many Russian soldiers are affected.
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