According to Belarusian media reports and Telegram channels, many wounded Russian soldiers are being brought to Belarusto receive medical care before being transported to Russia. Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko confirmed as much saying that after five days of war between 160 and 170 Russian soldiers had received treatment in the cities of Gomel, Mazyr and another Belarusian town.

Four sources told DW that there were Russian soldiers in these southern Belarusian cities. Furthermore, they said a field hospital was set up in Narovlya, not far from the border with Ukraine. One source told DW many wounded soldiers arrived in Mazyr, “without arms, legs, ears and eyes.” They said that some arrived too late and already had gangrene: “If they are brought in time, their limbs can still be rescued.”

The source said some of the wounded had not eaten for five days, arrived disoriented and wanted to call their parents: “These are patients who were born in 2003, from poor regions of Russia. Basically, they are still children.”