Mobilization in Russia for July 25-26, 2024 CIT Volunteer SummaryÂ
Authorities and Legislation
Oleg Kozhemyako, Governor of the Primorsky region [Russia's federal subject], announced the creation of a volunteer militia unit in Vladivostok, tasked with protecting the public order. Called "Tigr: Law and Order," it is composed of former fighters of the Tigr [Tiger] volunteer unit, which has been involved in the war against Ukraine. On July 25, 300 members began their duties. Similar units are planned for other cities across the region. Kozhemyako, who mentioned the unitâs formation back in February, added that the new unit will assist the police and Rosgvardia [the Russian National Guard] n monitoring public order and "putting foreigners in their place," as they "do not quite understand the rules of propriety." He did not specify the unit's exact powers but mentioned that members would carry body armor, rubber truncheons and radios during patrols. They will receive a monthly salary of approximately 70,000 rubles [$820], as well as additional financial compensation from the region. Vazhnyye Istorii [IStories, independent Russian investigative media outlet] found out that the unit will be headed by Dmitry Mun, a police lieutenant colonel who has repeatedly been accused of torturing suspects.
Army Recruitment and Military Service Advertising
Vasily Golubev, Governor of the Rostov region announced that the sign-up bonus will be raised to 1.2 million rubles [$14,100]. Authorities will pay this amount to individuals who conclude a contract with the Ministry of Defense between July 27 and Aug. 31 at a draft or recruitment office in the region. They do not need to be a local resident to be eligible. When the bonus was first introduced, it was set at 200,000 rubles [$2,340]. It was then increased to 500,000 rubles [$5,860] in February and 700,000 rubles [$8,200] in April.
A new advertisement aimed to support the recruitment of contract soldiers for the Russian Army has been spotted in Novosibirsk, offering local residents a sign-up bonus of 1.29 million rubles [$15,100], composed of 1,1 million rubles [$12,900] paid by the region and 195.000 rubles [$2,290] paid by the MoD. Interestingly, to qualify for the bonus, recruits must sign the contract at the draft office in Salekhard, the capital city of the Yamalo-Nenets autonomous region [Russia's federal subject]. In the Novosibirsk region itself, the proportion paid by the region only amounts to 205,000 rubles.
Mobilized Soldiers, Volunteer Fighters and Contract Soldiers
The list of mobilized soldiers killed in the war has been updated to include Vitaly Bogatikov and Ivan Gorelov from the Rostov region, Mikhail Spirin, Sergey Sofyin and Dmitry Smirnov from Russiaâs constituent Republic of Tatarstan and Boris Rybakov from Russia's constituent republic of Mari El.
Based on open sources, Mediazona [independent Russian media outlet] and BBC News Russian, together with volunteers, have verified the names of 61 009 Russian fighters killed in Ukraine, including 7,663 mobilized civilians. Over the past week, 1,284 names of military personnel, including 219 mobilized soldiers, have been added to the list of casualties. Almost half of servicemen listed as killed had no involvement with the Russian Army before the war broke out. As a matter of fact, the share of such citizens among the dead can amount to 70%.
A former member of the People's Militia of the so-called DPR was being kept locked in a basement jail for two weeks and pressured to sign a contract with the MoD. Previously, the man had already served as a contract soldier, but when his contract expired in May 2023, he chose not to renew it. However, in June 2024, he was taken into custody at a checkpoint in the city of Mariupol, allegedly for going AWOL. During questioning by an investigator, he steadfastly refused to go to war, preferring imprisonment instead. Contrary to that, he was sent to the 112th Regiment where he was put into a damp basement and beaten to make him sign a new contract. After a while, his captors took him from the basement to force him to work, which gave him a chance to escape. He is now awaiting a response to his appeal to the Investigative Committee. According to the Astra Telegram channel, both the battalion commander and the assistant commander for political affairs of the 1st Battalion of the 112th Regiment were involved in his illegal detention and torture.
Astra reported on the dire conditions within the 25th Motorized Rifle Brigade. Inexperienced contract soldiers in their first month of service are being sent on assaults, along with penalized soldiers from other units who end up in the brigade through a notorious basement jail in the village of Zaitseve. Additionally, severely injured soldiers, including those missing eyes, on crutches and with hepatitis, are being deployed. Consequently, many soldiers end up "disappearing" on the frontline.
Grigory Gorovoy, a soldier from the Sura Battalion in Chuvashia [Russiaâs constituent republic], posted a video criticizing military leadership due to reduced payments. Since February-March, after the battalion was transferred from the area of Kreminna to Belgorod, soldiers' payments were reduced from 285,000 rubles [$3,340] to just 40,000 rubles [$470], with some even receiving only 15,000 rubles [$180]. Gorovoy explained to the Govorit NeMoskva [NonMoscow Is Speaking] Telegram channel that the reduction is justified by the claim that the soldiers are now "in Russia, not in the special military operation zone." He also noted that his unit has suffered enormous losses compared to their time in Kreminna.
Kristina Chokan, the mother of a contract soldier, recorded a video message complaining that her son has been locked up at the 7th Motorized Rifle Regiment in Kaliningrad and is being prepared to be sent back to war. Her son, who has been severely wounded multiple times and still has shrapnel in his abdomen and a missing eardrum, requires surgery. Additionally, his contract expired over two years ago, but all her complaints to the MoD have been met with references to Putin's mobilization order.
Sentences, Legal Proceedings and Incidents
The Suspilne Ukrainian media outlet has obtained documents from a criminal case initiated by the Investigative Committee of Russia against the leadership of the 6th Motorized Rifle Division of the Russian Armed Forces. According to the resolution, the division's commanders are accused not only of detaining and torturing their subordinates but also of murdering at least seven servicemen. The case documents mention 19 victims who were held in basements in the Russian-occupied city of Popasna, Luhansk region, at various times. Journalists could not find any mentions of this case in Russian mediaâonly two social media comments about the arrests of Ospanov and Malyshko.
In Rostov-on-Don, the trial has begun for the execution of nine members of one family in the occupied village of Volnovakha by two Russian contract soldiers, Stanislav Rau and Anton Sopov. The trial will be held behind closed doors.
Yury Yashkov, head of the First Department of Investigation of particularly important cases of the Main Investigation Department of the Investigative Committee in Saint Petersburg, has stated that law enforcement officers are monitoring "definitely dangerous" ex-convicts who were pardoned for participating in the war with Ukraine. However, he believes that crimes involving these individuals are relatively few in the city.
The Moscow Garrison Military Court has sentenced a mobilized soldier from Russia's constituent republic of Sakha (Yakutia) to five years of probation for going AWOL.The soldier had been granted permission to leave the combat zone to address leave issues.However, instead of reaching his unit, he went directly home to Yakutia due to his wife's deteriorating health. He cared for his wife, who has a first-degree disability, for five months. Upon arriving in Moscow, the soldier learned that he was wanted and voluntarily reported to the military commandant's office.
In Krasnoyarsk, a court has sentenced two teenagers to five and a half years and four years in a penal colony for attempting sabotage committed in a group in conspiracy. One of the convicts was also charged with sabotage for setting fire to relay cabinets in the city of Uyar in June 2023.
In the Samara region, Nadezhda Gridneva, an elderly woman, has been sentenced to one and a half years of restricted liberty in connection with an attempted arson at the draft office. Gridneva was arrested in November of last year. According to law enforcement officers, she was coerced by phone scammers to set fire to the draft office. Gridneva threw three bottles of a flammable mixture at the building, causing damage estimated at 1,100 rubles [$13].
The FSB of Russia in the Altai region reported the arrest of a 19-year-old resident of Biysk on charges of high treason and financing the Armed Forces of Ukraine.The suspect is accused of transferring money for the purchase of drones and other equipment. A criminal case has been opened against him for high treason and attempted financing of terrorism. The young man faces up to 20 years in prison.
In Saint Petersburg, Vyacheslav Lutor has been sentenced to 10 years in a maximum security penal colony for high treason. According to prosecutors, Lutor, acting on the instructions of a handler from Ukraine, surveyed objects in Saint Petersburg for a planned drone attack.
Mikhail Dariy and Ilya Kovylkov, who created a chat group with 13 participants to "promote terrorism among Russian youth" and allegedly planned a terrorist attack in Sheremetyevo Airport under the guidance of Ukrainian intelligence, have been sentenced by the Second Western District Military Court to 22 and 15 years, respectfully, in a maximum security penal colony.
Children
Across various Russian regions, sessions of the summer military-historical camps "Country of Heroes" have taken place. The program included activities such as knife throwing, tactical medicine, practical shooting, "assault of territories captured by the enemy," filming music videos for patriotic songs, unveiling and guarding monuments and meeting participants from the war with Ukraine.
Saratov regionâs school curricula now will include visits to the "special military operation" museum. Additionally, the governor announced that branches of the museum will be established in all municipalities across the region.
Miscellaneous
In Bashkortostan [Russia's constituent republic], the mortality rate among working-age men has increased by 11.7%. According to official data from Rosstat, 5,000 men aged 16 to 61 died in the republic during the first five months of this year. The Idel.Realii online media outlet [part of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty] reports that Bashkortostan, with 2,493 deceased, continues to lead significantly in this indicator in the Volga region.
Longreads
The Sever.Realii [part of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty] online media outlet released a report on the organization of the recruitment system for the war. Meanwhile, the NastoyashŃheye Vremya [Current Time, an editorially independent US-funded Russian language media outlet] prepared a video featuring stories of men who were coerced into going to war by their mothers and wives.
The Vot Tak [Like This] media outlet, using the example of ex-convicts released after the "special military operation," explains why the administrative supervision, or probation, system in Russia is ineffective.
The 7x7âGorizontalnaya Rossiya [Horizontal Russia] news outlet continues its series of articles exploring various religions in the context of the war in Ukraine. The latest article examines Buddhism in Russia and explores why adherents of this traditionally peaceful religion support the war.
Mediazona reports on the persecution of human rights activist Natalya Filonova, who was sentenced to three years in a penal colony for allegedly attacking law enforcement officers after a protest against mobilization, while her adopted son was placed to an orphanage.