Russia executing soldiers who fail to follow orders in Ukraine war, says US

National Security Council spokesman John Kirby spoke to reporters (Mark Schiefelbein/AP)

Russia is executing soldiers who have failed to follow orders and is threatening entire units with death if they retreat from Ukrainian artillery fire, the White House said.

It is a development that reflects Russia’s morale problems 20 months into its grinding invasion of Ukraine, said National Security Council spokesman John Kirby.