Officially, the Russian government ended partial mobilization for the invasion of Ukraine at the end of October, but President Vladimir Putin did not sign a corresponding decree. Russians continue to receive draft orders as troop morale plummets and complaints mount. Opponents of the war are demanding that mobilization be reversed – your protest is getting a lot of attention online.
Several opposition groups have launched a petition calling for an official end to the mobilization, which has now been signed by more than 38,000 people. Russian men are still at risk of joining the army. Because without a signed decree, according to human rights activists, there is no guarantee that conscription will end. They suspect that the Kremlin wants to mobilize much more than the officially announced 300,000 soldiers. Hundreds of thousands have fled Russia out of fear.
Mothers of soldiers against war
The protest against the mobilization and against the Russian offensive war in general is increasingly shifting to the internet, say experts from the American think tank Institute for the Study of War (ISW). The mothers of Russian soldiers, such as the NGO “Soldier’s Mothers of St. Petersburg”, have a strong voice in this regard: they were against invasion even before the start of the war in February. About 1,500 mothers of children with disabilities and from large families have now asked Putin not to send their husbands to war. In an open letter they appeal to the ruler as “protector of family values”.
While Russian police cracked down on street demonstrations, the Kremlin has so far failed to regulate online services such as Telegram. Such platforms are used, including by Russian military personnel themselves, to openly express dissatisfaction and urge politicians to action (see below).
Military blogger grudge
According to the ISW experts, significant support comes from Russian military bloggers. This scene has long been critical of the Defense Department – especially since the beginning of the partial mobilization, the chaotic course of which has been criticized.
The resentment that military bloggers hold against the Kremlin over Ukraine’s many setbacks is now becoming more apparent. Abuses in the army are regularly exposed. For example, there are complaints about the poor equipment. In one case, they reportedly trained with Russian-made body armor, which had been exchanged for cheap Chinese brands shortly before the start of the operation (see below).
According to the ISW, a new phenomenon is that the military blogger community not only exerts influence on the opposition, but increasingly also on pro-war factions.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
