Mobilization in Russia for Mar. 18–19, 2023 CIT volunteer summary
In Buryatia [Russia’s constituent republic], widows and wives of war veterans with children of preschool age will be entitled to a reduction of the workday by one hour. The draft decree of the head of the republic points out that the benefit will be applicable even to ex-wives. The reduction of the working day will not result in a reduction of the salary. The explanatory note to the document states that the decision is being made "in order to strengthen the family as a social institution."
Information emerged about a direct mail campaign being launched encouraging citizens to enlist for contract-based military service with the Russian Armed Forces. A resident of the Moscow region reported having found such an advertisement in his mailbox.
The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation released a video showing the repair units of the Western Military District consisting of mobilized personnel busy with their missions. Another video shows sniper pairs of reconnaissance units of the Airborne Forces during training exercises.
Russia's losses of mobilized soldiers continue to grow. The list of casualties now includes the names of Nikolay Novikov from Bryansk, Ilya Petrov, and Pyotr Somov from the Orenburg region, Yevgeny Kostrikov from the Volgograd region, Aleksey Gorelov from the Zabaykalsky region, Yuri Prokopiev, Viktor Konovalov and Aleksandr Borozdin from the Krasnoyarsk region, Omak Tongak from Tyva [Russia's constituent republic], and Chimit Badmaev from Buryatia.
The pro-Kremlin portal 63.RU published a report from the Rubezhnoye cemetery in Samara designated for the burial of the military. Over the past year, there has been a noticeable increase in the number of graves. The new graves can be easily recognized by military flags and huge wreaths.
The Taiga.Info media outlet drew attention to Minusinsk – a town in the south of the Krasnoyarsk region with about 70 thousand citizens. The death of mobilized soldiers from exactly this town was first officially confirmed by the authorities. In total, the website of the Minusinsk mayor's office reports of at least 23 soldiers killed in hostilities in Ukraine, 13 of those are mobilized.
A friend of a mobilized soldier who was sent to an assault near Vuhledar without training turned to the editorial office of the Sibir.Realii [part of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty] online media outlet. The outlet published a story of the soldier about how his comrades were killed before his eyes.
In the Komi Republic [Russia’s constituent republic], armor plates for soldiers with a prayer on the inside were created. 34 plates for body armor were made in Ukhta on the initiative of the head of a regional military-patriotic club. They were consecrated in a local church, and a text of prayer was inscribed on the inside. The plates are to be handed over to the residents of the town who went to the war. Meanwhile, in Omsk, artist Andrey Ryvankov handed over 1,100 mini copies of the Lord's Prayer to the Russian soldiers.
Social activist Vyacheslav Maksyuta and his assistants collected another batch of aid for the mobilized soldiers undergoing training in Belarus. At the same time, he expressed dissatisfaction with the organization of aid collection.
Within a month, students at school No. 134, together with their parents, collected donations for the troops, which filled a whole Gazelle [Russian-made light commercial vehicle]. Representatives of the All-Russia People's Front [political coalition in Russia started in 2011 by then-Prime Minister of Russia Vladimir Putin] promised to deliver the donations to the frontline.
In Karelia [constituent republic of Russia], an employee of the Russian Railway company has been stealing bed linen from a train for six months and giving it away as an aid for the troops participating in the “special military operation.” Initiating a criminal case for theft is being considered.
Yekaterinburg Mayor Alexei Orlov asked everyone who wants to wish him a happy birthday to transfer money to buy additional equipment for the 354th hospital of the Central Military District, where injured servicemen are undergoing rehabilitation.
In Tatarstan, the wife of a drafted man complained to the police about the administration, claiming that "there is no help from the authorities." Zumarra B., 59, stayed alone with her disabled son after her husband had been drafted and sent to the “special military operation.” According to the woman, during her husband's absence, the administration did not show due attention to herself and other relatives of the draftee. Zumarra was upset that the officials never called and asked how the family lives and whether everything is fine with them.
Employees of the Plesetsk Integrated Social Services Center in the Arkhangelsk region involve disabled and sick old people in photo shoots for propaganda posters.