Russian soldiers face sickness, morale problems due to rats and mice: UK

The United Kingdom’s defense ministry said on Saturday that both Ukrainian and Russian troops are likely experiencing severe rat and mice infestations at various sectors of the front line in Ukraine, with unverified reports suggesting that Russian combatants are suffering from infectious diseases dealt by the rodents.

The rodent problem is attributed to this year’s mild autumn, the defense ministry said, coupled with the abundance of food in fields left dormant due to ongoing fighting which has led to an increased rodent population. With colder weather setting in, the rodents are seeking shelter in military vehicles and defensive positions, the report said.

The infestations are a two-pronged issue for front-line combatants, with the rodents creating potential issues with military equipment as well as spreading infectious diseases. Rodents are known to gnaw through cables, a problem that was previously recorded in the same region during World War II, the defense ministry said.

Unverified reports cited by the ministry point to the rodents potentially affecting Russian troops more than Ukrainian troops, with some Russian units suffering from increased sickness.

Newsweek has reached out to the British defense ministry and the Russian foreign ministry via email for comment.

Russian forces in Ukraine’s Kharkiv region have reportedly been grappling with an outbreak of “mouse fever,” impacting their combat effectiveness, Newsweek reported earlier this week. According to Ukraine’s military intelligence directorate (GUR), the spread of the disease among Russian troops is due to inadequate winter clothing and a lack of medical care.

Mouse fever, a type of hantavirus, is transmitted to humans from rodents. It can be contracted through direct contact with the pathogen, inhaling dust from mouse excrements, or consuming food contaminated by rodents.

Symptoms include severe headaches, rashes, fever, low blood pressure, joint pain and swelling, nausea, vomiting, intense low back pain, and difficulty urinating. In severe cases, untreated hantavirus infections can lead to shock and acute kidney failure.

GUR’s report, which Newsweek could not independently verify, suggests that Russian commanders may be ignoring the health concerns of their troops, perceiving them as attempts to avoid combat. The outbreak reportedly occurred near Kupyansk in the Kharkiv Oblast, significantly reducing the combat capability of the affected Russian forces.

Russia’s Domestic Front

The Russian military‘s current challenges in Ukraine are part of a broader array of issues impacting the Vladimir Putin-led country, according to an update last week from Newsweek’s Russia-Ukraine correspondent. Over 300,000 Russian soldiers have been killed or wounded since the beginning of the invasion, and the economic repercussions are being felt by millions in the country.

Despite high approval ratings for the war among the Russian populace—largely influenced by Kremlin-controlled media—there is a disconnect between public perception and the reality of the conflict’s human and material costs.

The correspondent’s report also noted that the Kremlin’s pre-war propaganda did not prepare the Russian population for the true nature of the conflict. With increased casualties and ongoing military struggles, including the recent outbreak of mouse fever among troops, Russia faces the physical battle in Ukraine as well as a battle for maintaining domestic stability and support.