Following the death of Alexei Navalny, Russia’s power apparatus took brutal action against those who mourned the Kremlin critic. Hundreds of people who had gathered to commemorate the event were arrested. According to media reports, several of those arrested have now been drafted into the army.
At least six people arrested in St. Petersburg have been summoned after being released from police custody, Telegram news channel Rotonda reported. Those affected must therefore report to the recruitment center within a few days to certify their data and register for military service.
“They will break our fingers if we don’t sign the subpoenas,” the Telegram channel “RusNews” quoted a man who received an appeal notice after his dismissal.
Military service is a common threat
Russian authorities often use the threat of military service in major war efforts as punishment for opposition figures. When many Russians demonstrated against the partial mobilization in September 2022, many of those arrested were also given draft orders.
Names of 45,000 dead Russian soldiers identified
And Russia needs new soldiers for its bloody war in Ukraine. It is unclear how many people have been killed there since the invasion began two years ago. The Kremlin – nor the government in Kiev – does not publish official figures. The BBC and the Russian medium ‘Mediazona’ have now succeeded in finding out the names of more than 45,000 Russian soldiers who have been killed in Ukraine since February 2022.
According to the media, the number includes only the names of soldiers “recorded in publicly available data – mainly obituaries.” The actual number of deaths could therefore be twice as high. Two-thirds of the identified dead had no ties to the military before the invasion, media said. The Russian agency told the BBC that they were volunteers, mobilized people, prisoners and recruits from private companies.
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.
