Mobilization in Russia for Feb. 18–19, 2023, CIT volunteer summary
The State Council (parliament) of annexed Crimea decided to nationalize about 700 pieces of property belonging to Ukrainian individuals. The Russian-appointed head of Crimea, Sergey Aksyonov, stated that the nationalized property would be put up for auction, and all proceeds from its sale would go to support the "special military operation." The value of the seized assets is estimated at "billions of rubles."
According to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, relatives of mobilized soldiers from Crimea are addressing the Russian Defense Ministry en masse because of the violation of the rights of soldiers. Thus, they complain about poor sanitary and hygienic conditions and food, the lack of rotations and vacation leaves, as well as solicitation of bribes from privates and sergeants in the amount equivalent to a thousand dollars for short-term vacations.
Mikhail Matveyev, a member of the State Duma [lower house of the Federal Assembly of Russia] from the Communist Party of the Russian Federation, after the publishing of the video with apologies from the soldiers of the 1444th Samara Regiment, demanded the same apologies from other mobilized soldiers who had previously recorded their complaints about the command. “Where are these videos with Tuvans, kazanians, and so on, who also recorded their video messages?” Matveyev wrote on his Telegram channel.
Alexey Puzev, a mobilized soldier from St. Petersburg, and Nikita Apostol, a mobilized soldier from the Vladimir region, were killed in the war. Fathers of many children continue to die. In Vologda, farewell ceremonies were held for Evgeny Malafeyevsky and Eduard Voronov in the Krasnoyarsk region. Both men had three children.
Also, the names of two more mobilized soldiers who were killed on Jan. 1 in Makiivka became known. These are 25-year-old Dmitry Markin and 36-year-old Viktor Naumkin. Thus, at the moment, the names of 110 killed soldiers are known.
Head of the [Russian constituent] republic of Buryatia Alexey Tsydenov announced in his Telegram channel that Buryatia residents raised over half a million rubles at the “To victory with music!” concert marathon held in support of the so-called special military operation.
The Russian Ministry of Defense shows footage of draftee paratroopers undergoing combat training in the rear of the so-called special military operation.
In the Rostov region, a search is underway for service members from the Somalia Battalion [a separatist unit from the so-called DPR]. According to preliminary reports, four fighters left “DPR” a few days ago for a neighboring region taking their assault rifles with them. Later, the men headed for the Rostov region. Their current whereabouts are unknown.
A Moscow region draftee robbed his family during the last day of his leave after his wife filed for divorce. Aleksandr S., 45, transferred out all of his wife’s money—49 thousand rubles—from her bank card. The draftee’s spouse went to the police asking to quickly resolve the issue of the stolen money and threats since that was Aleksandr’s last day on leave, and he had to depart back to his unit stationed in the Bryansk region.
Several pro-Russian Telegram channels report (1, 2) major problems with payouts of military allowance to service members. The problems are encountered by draftees, contract soldiers, and volunteers alike. In particular, soldiers are facing difficulties receiving “combat” pay as well as payouts for being wounded. At the same time, senior officers have no issues arranging various bonuses for themselves.
Georgyi Kantaria, the great-nephew of Meliton Kantaria captured in the famous photo hoisting a Soviet flag over the Reichstag in May 1945, became one of the winners of the Chelovek Z [Person Z] award in the Simvol Z [Symbol Z] nomination in Kaluga. Georgyi, who voluntarily decided to go to war with Ukraine, used to be a contract serviceman of Rosgvardia [the National Guard of Russia]. The Chelovek Z [Person Z] award was presented in Kaluga last Saturday. It was established by the regional Union of Journalists.
Instructions for celebrating the Defender of the Fatherland Day on Feb. 23 are sent to regional departments. They describe all the events that the regional authorities are to hold on Feb. 22-26 to celebrate the state holiday in detail. In particular, officials are asked to abandon "excessive fun" and "luxurious festivities" on Maslenitsa [an Eastern Slavic religious and folk holiday celebrated during the last week before Great Lent]. Only treats are welcome, as well as "services and sermons for the glory of the Russian Army." The holidays are supposed to show that “the entire nation is involved in the fight against the enemy” and to demonstrate the “power of the Russian Army.”
Following the city of Blagoveshchensk, a "sports-patriotic" action for mass dousing with cold water on the squares will be held in other cities and towns of Russia on Feb. 25. Residents of 15 regions are expected to take part in the event. The action will be the second in a row; the first one was held last year.
According to the parish of a local church of Svyatoy Pravedny Ioann Kronshtadtsky [the holy righteous John of Kronstadt], students of school No. 84 in Tolyatti make camouflage nets in technology classes, "The children have been “inoculated” with "the desire to help the front by making nets."