Mobilization in Russia for Feb. 24–25, 2023 CIT volunteer summary
In the city of Tomsk, a training course on mobilization procedures will be developed for local government officers. The Tomsk regional department of finance and supply management has launched a digital tender for a training course to be implemented for municipal servants. The course will cover such subjects as mobilization readiness and mobilization procedures. According to the procurement records, the winner will have delivered a 72-hour training course for 15 municipal servants in the city of Tomsk by Dec. 1, 2023.
Russia’s Ministry of Defense posted a video shot in the rear area of the “special military operation” showing combat training of BMP-2M infantry fighting vehicle crews composed of mobilized personnel.
Mobilized soldiers are being killed in the war against Ukraine every day. 33-year-old Lenar Shamsiyev from Tatarstan, 48-year-old Vladimir Belolipetsky from Volgograd, 26-year-old Stepan Silayev, 23-year-old Andrey Smirnov and Aleksandr Velikanov from the Yaroslavl region, as well as Ivan Kalentiev from Samara, were killed on the battlefield. 22-year-old Nikita Filippov from Tyumen died under "undetermined circumstances."
Four more names of Russian service members killed by the strike in Makiivka have been identified: Mikhail Konovalov, Pavel Bakai, Semyon Kashtanov, and Yevgeny Ofitserov. Thus, the confirmed number of casualties sustained in the incident in Makiivka has reached 127.
Mobilized soldiers from Irkutsk complained of being sent to assault without training. Servicemen of the 1439th regiment recorded a video message in which they said that they had been transferred under the command of the 1st Slavyansk Brigade of the "DPR." Currently, they are being set up in assault units “to be used as consumables." In order to force the mobilized to assault the positions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the area of Avdiivka, the officers of the "DNR," among other things, are shooting at the mobilized. Earlier, mobilized soldiers from the 2nd battalion of this regiment recorded a similar video appeal. Currently, according to the authors of the new appeal, this battalion is almost completely destroyed, and the survivors have also been transferred under the command of the 1st Brigade. Overall, according to the military, the brigade has been replenished with the mobilized six times.
Valentina Krivozub, an activist, studied the social media pages of mobilized soldiers and noticed at least two trends. Firstly, there are a lot of questions about payments and the possibility of returning soldiers home after 5-6 months of staying at the front. Secondly, one can notice hot disputes between supporters and opponents of the invasion under every second or third post. In addition, the activist notes that an internal conflict is flaring up in society "against the backdrop of monstrous bureaucracy and broken promises."
The wives of mobilized soldiers from Samara appeal to the authorities to strive for better conditions for the soldiers. On the social networks of the authorities, women complain about the lack of training and supplies, the disbandment of already well-coordinated units, the mess with paperwork, and commanders who take away the aid sent for mobilized soldiers. In response, representatives of the administration promise to deal with the situation or redirect the questions to the Ministry of Defense.
The "Council of Mothers and Wives" demanded that one of the draft offices of the Altai Republic [Russia’s constituent republic] provide information about the mobilized children and relatives of local officials. The draft office refused, referring to the law "On Personal Data Protection."
Mobilized soldiers from the Primorsky region [Primorye, a federal subject of Russia] fighting in Ukraine received holiday rations and postcards for the Defender of the Fatherland Day [Feb.23]. Among other things, moldy sausages were found in the boxes.
An article by the Equality media outlet discusses what may happen in society after the return of convicts and mobilized soldiers from the front. Journalists talked with a historian and psychologist specializing in post-traumatic stress disorder about the impact of armed conflict on society.
The Govorit NeMoskva [NonMoscow Is Speaking] Telegram channel addresses the topic of the increase in domestic violence caused by the war. The statistics of domestic violence in the Russian regions since the beginning of the war in Ukraine has shown a negative trend. Thus, the overall level of violence in families increased from 6% to 12% in families of military people — from 13.5 to 58%. The military experience of one of the partners increases the likelihood of domestic violence by 43% and the level of child abuse — by 77%.
Yesterday we reported about the detention of a schoolboy who was suspected of intending to set fire to the military commissariat. The court in Tobolsk took him into custody today, and the investigative committee initiated a criminal case on charges of preparing a terrorist act. According to the 72.RU local news portal, the father of the schoolboy returned home from the war in Ukraine only on Feb. 22.
In Yekaterinburg, a student who allegedly assembled an explosive device was caught. He was detained after he wrote insults to employees of the Novator design bureau on the wall in an underpass. The device was found in his apartment, reportedly along with pro-Ukrainian leaflets. A little later, the security forces came to the second student who ran the "operation." Several criminal cases were initiated at once, including ones under the article on terrorism.
On Feb. 24, at least 54 people were detained at anti-war rallies on the first anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in various Russian cities and towns. An unknown female activist in Vladivostok celebrated Maslenitsa [Eastern Slavic religious and folk holiday] by burning an effigy made of pro-Kremlin newspapers and draft notices.
A video in support of the Russian military was recorded by employees and kids of kindergarten No. 20 in the town of Labinsk, Krasnodar region. With Z letters attached to their clothes, they performed a "patriotic" song. Meanwhile, in a kindergarten in the town of Uryupinsk, the “Future Warrior 2023” competition was held, where preschoolers were tasked with "delivering a secret package and evacuating the wounded." At the same time, retirees in Zhulebino [Moscow district] competed in assembling Kalashnikov assault rifles.
On Feb. 23, the investigative committee of Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous region [federal subject of Russia] organized the "Hockey in Valenki" competition for cadets, Young Army [pro-Kremlin youth organization] members, orphans from Donetsk, children of investigators, and teenagers who are registered with the police.
Forbes estimates that at least 700,000 people left Russia in the first weeks after the announcement of mobilization. The Sirena Telegram channel reported on the most unusual ways to leave the country during this period.