Russian troops are refusing to deploy to observation posts in the Dnipro River’s island zone near Kherson because of worsening logistical problems that leave them without evacuation, water, or medical supplies, a Ukrainian military spokesperson said.Speaking to Ukrainian state media Ukrinform on Thursday, Southern Defense Forces spokesperson Vladyslav Voloshyn said morale among Russian units assigned to the islands has deteriorated significantly.JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official.“Russian soldiers do not want to go to these observation posts,” Voloshyn said. “First of all, because there are enormous logistical problems.”According to Voloshyn, Russian forces stationed on the islands rely on observation posts spread across several small land masses in the Dnipro delta.He said soldiers deployed there often remain isolated, with no reliable evacuation routes or regular deliveries of drinking water, food, medicine, and other essential supplies.The logistical difficulties have contributed to a sharp decline in morale among the units responsible for manning the positions, Voloshyn added.He said Russian commanders are currently selecting personnel for transfer to other sectors of the front. Soldiers who refuse deployment to the islands may instead be reassigned to assault units, including those operating near Orikhiv in Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia region.Struggle with expansionThe islands in the Dnipro delta have remained a contested area since Ukrainian forces liberated the western bank of the river in late 2022.