An outbreak of so-called "mouse or rat-bite fever" has been spreading among many Russian units in the Kupyansk sector of the front, Ukraine’s Main Intelligence Directorate (HUR) reported on Telegram on Dec. 19.
Russia’s military commanders ignored complaints from its troops that they were suffering bouts of fever as being just another manifestation of their attempts to avoid combat.
The head of Ukraine’s army categorized the incident as “like a war” with both he and the General Staff confirming it wasn’t the only such device discovered.
The Russians have begun to deploy reserve assault units to the Kupyansk area to blockade the city, Ukraine's Army Commander Colonel-General Oleksandr Syrskyi reported on Telegram on Dec. 11.