Authored by Andrew Korybko via Substack,

The head of neighboring Mirnograd's military administration bluntly said:

"Don't wait. It will not get better, it will only get worse. Leave", and then admitted that "The enemy is advancing faster than expected."

The Associated Press cited local commanders who blamed Russia's swift gains on their side's poorly trained conscripts.

One of them claimed that "Some people don't want to shoot. They see the enemy in the firing position in trenches but don't open fire. ... That is why our men are dying…They don't receive even the lowest standard of training required for our (combat) actions." An unnamed soldier also lamented that "The main problem is the survival instinct of newcomers. Before, people could stand until the last moment to hold the position. Now, even when there is light shelling of firing positions, they are retreating."