Mobilization in Russia for Sept. 6-8, 2024 CIT Volunteer Summary
Authorities and Legislation
The Ministry of Digital Development, Communications and Mass Media of Russia should be responsible for information security certification of the Unified Military Register, according to a proposed amendment to the government resolution on the register of Russians subject to military service [digital system to identify citizens subject to military service and serve draft notices]. The ministry’s press service indicated that the amendment would not impact citizens or draft offices, adding that the amendment is required because it is responsible for the technical implementation based on requirements from the Ministry of Defense. The register is expected to become operational on Nov. 1, 2024.
Army Recruitment and Military Service Advertising
The Moscow metro is participating in the recruitment of volunteer fighters for the Russian Army. Its employees are manning a stationary recruitment point at the Slavyansky Bulvar station. They are offering fictitious jobs within the organization, with real salary payments for the duration of the military service, to anyone willing to conclude a contract with the Ministry of Defense. They are additionally promising rehabilitation and adaptation support, benefits for family members, as well as the supply of personal gear by the Moscow metro. Quoting the employees, the Sota media outlet reports that the organization "now accepts everyone without distinction," presumably to meet the goals set by management.
Authorities in the Rostov region have extended the availability of a 1.2 million ruble [$13,400] sign-up bonus, paid upon conclusion of a contract to fight in the war, until Sept. 30, 2024. Earlier, they had indicated the "offer" would expire on Aug. 31.
As reported by TV Rain [independent Russian television channel], a number of Indian citizens who were fighting in the Russian army have been withdrawn from the frontline and are preparing to return home. According to the previous reports, more than 90 Indians were deceived into fighting against Ukraine, with at least eight of them killed. Of the 83 survivors, 13 have left the Russian Army.
Mobilized Soldiers, Volunteer Fighters and Contract Soldiers
The list of mobilized soldiers killed in the war has been updated to include Sergey Gribanov from the Bryansk region, Vladimir Kopylov from the Samara region, and Oleg Fatkhinurov from the Sakhalin region.
Pro-Russian war supporters complain about the command of the 54th Motorized Rifle Regiment. They accuse the battalion commander, Major Oganes Petrosyan, and the chief of staff, Major Aleksey Shek, of handcuffing subordinates to a pole and beating them, resulting in broken ribs. The Astra Telegram channel has confirmed the identity of one of the commanders. In a video circulating online, an officer reprimands subordinates for consuming alcohol and using the services of sex workers, subsequently beating one of them with a fan. The soldiers were then beaten and handcuffed for a long time along with a group of other punished servicemen. Moreover, it is alleged that the commanders collect 50,000 rubles [$560] from soldiers on a monthly basis, and those who refuse to pay are sent to positions where "survival is simply impossible." Furthermore, it is claimed that forged combat orders, which permit soldiers to leave the military unit, are being sold within the unit.
Relatives of soldiers from the 25th Motorized Rifle Brigade contacted the Astra news outlet after a broadcast by the Russian propagandist Vladimir Solovyev, in which he attempted to defend the brigade's commander, Colonel Aleksey Ksenofontov. Solovyev also demanded an "explanation" from Alina Bolvinova, the wife of one of the missing soldiers, who had spoken out about Ksenofontov's actions and the soldiers who went missing under his command. Bolvinova suggested that Solovyev interview all the relatives of the deceased soldiers, who, according to her, curse Ksenofontov. According to the relatives, the brigade commander, who sends soldiers on deadly assaults and receives state awards for it, downplays the losses by an order of magnitude, thanks to so-called "attached" soldiers. Astra has identified at least two soldiers who ended up in the brigade after being taken from a basement jail in the village of Zaitseve. Both went missing after being sent from the basement to an assault unit. In total, at least 43 soldiers are known to be missing. The news outlet also published the names and stories of the missing soldiers.
Dmytro Lubinets, the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights, said that Russian prisoners of war have been prohibited from making phone calls home in response to the executions of Ukrainian prisoners of war by Russian soldiers. However, Ukraine will continue to adhere to the Geneva Conventions and will allow the right to send letters to Russia.
The Insider [independent Russian investigative media outlet] released a video about how Russian soldiers who have become disabled are living in Ukrainian captivity and why Russia is in no hurry to bring these disabled war veterans back home.
Sentences, Legal Proceedings and Incidents
Russian soldiers have once again been caught looting on Russian territory, this time in the Belgorod region. In a video published by the Pepel [Ashes] Telegram channel, a woman can be seen shouting at the soldiers, accusing them of taking items from her home, including canned meat, and stealing an ATV. According to the publication, the footage was taken in the village of Petrivka in the Belgorodsky district, which is located near the Russia-Ukraine border. This is far from the first evidence of looting by Russian soldiers on Russian territory.
Guzel Mukhyarova, a resident of Bashkortostan [Russia's constituent republic], has asked Governor of Bashkortostan Radiy Khabirov for assistance in initiating a criminal case due to the death of her 25-year-old son, contract soldier Emil Mukhyarov. According to the woman, on Aug. 31, she and her husband were called to the Rostov morgue to identify their son's body. The investigator informed them that Mukhyarov had hanged himself. However, the parents were only shown a photo of the body, on which the family noticed bruises and blood. The morgue staff claimed these were post-mortem stains and refused to show the body. According to the relatives, Mukhyarov had previously told them about a conflict with his commander, Major Aleksandr Yelkin.
No alcohol or drugs were found in the blood of Rifat Dautov, who was detained after the January protest in support of Bashkir activist Fail Alsynov and died under unexplained circumstances. Earlier, a pro-government Telegram channel reported that the forensic examination allegedly showed Dautov's alcohol poisoning and that he had no traumatic injuries. Relatives have insisted from the beginning that the deceased did not consume alcohol.
During two years of war, the Russian Army received over 9 million substandard dry rations. TASS [Russian state-owned news agency] reports on the supply of these rations, citing materials from a criminal case filed against the leaders of the Gryazinsky Food Combine, responsible for these deliveries. The total damage is estimated at 1.3 billion rubles [$14.54 million].
Elections in Russia
In Kazan, 15 individuals, including former Wagner Group mercenaries, expelled election commission member Taras Kharchenko from a polling station. A group of young people approached Kharchenko, threatening him and suggesting he "take a vacation" or "become a volunteer fighter." He was forced to leave the polling station.
In the Kursk region, where the fighting has been going on for a month and part of the territory is occupied by the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the highest turnout was recorded. By the end of the first day of voting, voter turnout for the region's governor elections had reached 46.94%. An additional 55,000 people voted online, marking the highest turnout among Russian regions.
In the Perm region [Russia's federal subject], commission members and voters are weaving camouflage nets for the military at polling stations. The regional election commission reports that in this way members of the precinct election commission help participants in the war with Ukraine. They are allegedly engaged in weaving nets during the break.
Children and Educational System
The Belgorod Metropolitanate handed over children's bulletproof vests to the authorities of the Kursk region. The Metropolitan said that children's bulletproof vests are "a symbol of care for life."
In Ussuriysk, starting in September, teachers are being trained to assemble weapons and operate drones under the pretext of preparing schoolchildren for "various" emergencies and promoting patriotism. In one of the children's camps, teachers are being trained in the "Fundamentals of Security and Defense of the Motherland." They learn shooting, military maneuvers and movement on the battlefield in order to pass these skills on to the children.
During the lesson "Talking About Important Things" [a compulsory lesson held every Monday in schools across the country] lessons dedicated to the 120th anniversary of the TASS news agency, Russian schoolchildren will be taught fact-checking. Among the partners of the lesson is ANO Dialog which receives money from the state budget for spreading falsehoods about Ukraine, the Vyorstka media outlet noted.
Aleksandr Buistov, a participant in the war with Ukraine and a candidate for the city council of Gus-Khrustalny in the Vladimir region, came to a kindergarten and told the children about what the "DPR" is, why Russia is fighting with Ukraine, and how to weaken the enemy's logistics. Buistov also gave the children a missile fragment and took a photo with them, asking them to show the Shaka sign, which is used by Wagner Group mercenaries.
A laboratory for research in the field of unmanned aircraft systems and UAV automatic control will be established at the Udmurt State University. A closed training ground will also appear in the region.
Longreads
The Sibir.Realii [part of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty] online media outlet spoke with the relatives of conscripts killed in the Kursk region about their grief and why they cannot openly voice their grievances to the authorities.