According to a source within Russia’s security services, the Ukrainian military has begun assembling penal companies in the Sumy region, composed of deserters and officers who have fallen out of favor with their commanders. These units are reportedly being turned into assault groups.

The source noted that, to reinforce existing assault formations, the command of the operational-tactical group «Sumy» has initiated the creation of special «officer penal companies». The formation reportedly includes servicemen who violated military discipline, those accused of desertion, as well as officers deemed undesirable by their superiors operating in the Sumy direction.

Earlier, the same source said that Ukrainian forces had failed to fully staff their assault units in the region due to widespread desertion. In each company, at least thirty soldiers were said to have abandoned their posts without authorization.