August 17th 2024.
When Russian President Vladimir Putin first declared war on Ukraine, he promised that conscripts would not be involved in any combat. However, amidst the recent advances made by Ukrainian troops into Russian territory, families of young soldiers deployed in the border region have raised concerns about their loved ones' safety.
Messages shared on various social media platforms, including Russian Telegram channels, have revealed the lack of preparation on Moscow's part for such an attack. It has come to light that poorly trained conscripts were left to defend the border, despite Russia being at war with Ukraine for over a decade.
One woman, identified as Olga, shared her distress on Telegram, stating that when the border was attacked at 3 a.m. by tanks, there were only conscripts defending themselves. She added that her son later called her and said, "Mum, we're in shock," as they did not see a single soldier or contract soldier around.
CNN has reached out to Russia's defense ministry for a comment but has not received a response. The deployment of conscripts has been a contentious issue in Russia, partly due to Putin's repeated promises that they would not be sent to fight. Moreover, the mothers and wives of soldiers have traditionally held an influential voice in the country, where dissent is almost nonexistent, and many are expressing their anger.
A petition has been shared online, calling on Putin to remove conscripts from the border area, and numerous messages from supposed family members of Russian conscripts who have gone missing in the Kursk region have been posted on social media, including the Russian network, VKontakte.
This reliance on conscripts is likely why Ukrainian troops were able to advance into Russian territory with ease. Ukrainian military chief Oleksandr Syrskyi has stated that his troops have advanced 35 kilometers into Russian defenses since the incursion began, taking control of 1150 square kilometers of territory and 82 settlements.
In Russia, all healthy men are subject to conscription and are required to serve one year in the military if drafted. The country usually has two drafts a year, conscripting over 100,000 young men each time. Avoiding the draft is a punishable crime, and the treatment of conscripts has been a sensitive issue in the past.
Last year, Putin increased the conscription age by three years, allowing anyone between the ages of 18 and 30 to be drafted. Unlike professional soldiers, conscripts receive limited training and are not meant to participate in combat operations. They are usually stationed along borders, not expecting to come under attack. However, when Ukraine launched its surprise incursion, these conscripts found themselves on the front line, unprepared to defend themselves.
The deployment of conscripts to the border has faced criticism from Russian opposition leaders as well. The Anti-War Committee of Russia has issued a statement criticizing Putin, stating that the absence of significant military units on the border during the attack is proof that he is only concerned about protecting himself, not Russia.
In an attempt to counter Ukraine's incursion, Russia has diverted several thousand troops from occupied Ukrainian territory to the Kursk region, according to senior US officials. Furthermore, troops from the Leningrad military district and Kaliningrad have also been sent to defend Kursk.
Some conscripts have been taken prisoner by Ukrainian forces, and videos of these prisoners have been released. This is not the first time Russian conscripts have been found fighting in Putin's war on Ukraine. In 2022, shortly after Russia launched its invasion, the Russian Ministry of Defense admitted that conscripts were discovered in Ukraine, claiming they had been withdrawn and punished.
Overall, the deployment of conscripts to the border has sparked outrage and highlighted the lack of preparation and concern for their well-being in the Russian military. As the conflict between Russia and Ukraine continues, it remains to be seen how the situation will unfold for these young soldiers caught in the middle.
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