Russia is sending wounded soldiers back into battle in a desperate attempt to take a Ukrainian city, families say

• Russian forces are sending wounded soldiers back to the front line, their families said.
• This is in order to capture the city of Avdiivka in time for Putin to crow about it at a TV event, they said.
• They sent their complaints in a letter to Putin, which was seen by Russian outlet Important Stories.

Wounded soldiers are being sent back to the trenches in an effort to capture a key Ukrainian city in time for President Vladimir Putin's annual phone-in, according to the families of soldiers.