Ukraine has been rationing ammunition and bullets; meanwhile the Russian army has been using ‘human wave’ tactics by sending poorly trained recruits to the frontline in a bid to force Ukraine use up all of its ammunition.
In Ukraine, the army has been on the backfoot over the last few months; and despite the US package of $61 billion (€56.6 billion) of military support, experts say it will be sufficient merely to hold the frontline and possibly regain some lost territory.
The situation has deteriorated in large part due to a serious shortage of ammunition and weapons from Western allies; where Ukrainian forces say they have been rationing bullets.
Ukraine has been forced to abandon territory westward beginning with Avdiivka in Donetsk region in February.
Due to a distinct lack of military support, Russia has gained and maintained momentum.
I doubt they are explicitly told they are cannon fodder.
But I also doubt they have been offered a lot of other options, either.
“Fight and maybe die, or refuse and guaranteed you will die a slow painful death in a gulag.”