Updated: Russia-Ukraine Flash Report 15 JUN 2023 15:30 PDT - Fratricide in Bakhmut (Patreon)

UPDATE: The 31st Guard Air Assault Brigade is also within Bakhmut and has a 1st Air Assault Battalion. This aligns with the Russian Report. the unit was relocated from the Svatove-Kreminna Operational Areas on May 27. Your feedback on the headline is deeply appreciated, and it has been adjusted; it was not our intent to offend anyone in our attempt to be brief.

The Russian Ministry of Defense is unable to bury reports of desertion and acts of fratricide when the perpetrators are running around armed in the occupied territories.

Russian source Operational Reports claims Junior Sergeant Roman Boldyrev is wanted for the alleged killing of five members of his platoon on June 12.

Jr. Sgt. Boldyrev is assigned to the 1st Airborne Assault Battalion, according to Russian sources, without specifying which Divison.

Update: As noted above, he is a member of the 31st Guards Air Assault Brigade, which was relocated from Svatove-Kreminna Operational Areas on May 27.

The 98th Guards Airborne Division and the 106th Guards Airborne Division are in the Bakhmut Operational Area, and the 106th has a 1st Air Defense Missile Regiment. There may be a translation issue between regiment and battalion.

Boldyrev reportedly got into a fight with other members of his platoon on June 11 or the early morning hours of June 12 in what is described as a "fire support" unit, which would align with a missile defense battalion/regiment. Boldyrev was reportedly beaten by his platoon, injured, and went AWOL.

Sometime during June 12, he is alleged to have returned with a machine gun, killing the five-member squad manning the unspecified battery (that is to say, were they operating regular artillery, MLRS, TOR, S-300, it was not specified). The battalion/regiment chief of staff went to the firebase after they lost communication with the unit and found the dead Russian troops.

Update: The 31st Guards Air Assault Brigade was the same force that landed in Hostomel on February 24,

There has been a notable increase in reports of Russian troops fighting among themselves, leading to violence, but this is the largest incident being reported by Russian sources of the war. We have covered numerous incidents showing a lack of unit cohesion among Russian troops.