Relatives of Russian soldiers denounce “the chaos” of the mobilization

Relatives of Russian reservists called up to fight in Ukraine, sent to the front without proper training and forced to buy their own equipment, denounce the “chaos” of the mobilization decreed by the Kremlin. The Ministry of Defense announced at the end of October that the mobilization begun on September 21 was over, ending a a process that exposed the army’s logistical difficulties.

“We had to buy uniforms, equipment and medicines. The training was total chaos, everything was very badly organized”Tatiana, whose nephew was mobilized in early October in Krasnogorsk, northwest of Moscow, told AFP. “It seemed that the decision to mobilize was made suddenly and no one was ready,” he added. adds the woman, who prefers to conceal her name for fear of reprisals, in a country where those who criticize the army risk prison.

Anna, a woman from Ivanteyevka, northeast of Moscow, is still reeling from the mobilization of her son-in-law. They both have family in Ukraine. “Our relatives are under bombs in Dnipro and he will have to go and kill people in our native country,” he says, on the verge of tears.

“He is against the war. But he has no choice: it’s the front or the prison,” he adds. Shortly before the mobilization, the Russian deputies tightened the sanctions. The Conscripts who refuse to go into battle risk a sentence of up to ten years in prison.

According to Anna, her son-in-law spent almost 100,000 rubles (about $1,600) – that is, seven times the Russian minimum wage – in bulletproof vests, uniforms, outerwear, boots and other equipment.