"Forced Transfer to Frontline After Beating"
Deployment Despite Protests by Soldiers' Families
Ukraine Begins Strikes on Russian Mainland... Troop Shortages
The Russian government forcibly deployed deserters who were on trial to the front lines. During this process, severe beatings and human rights violations against soldiers have been carried out, increasing resentment among the Russian public. Following the US and Western allowance of strikes on Russian mainland, the Ukrainian military's counterattacks have intensified, raising concerns about troop shortages on the front lines. Consequently, the Russian military is likely to increase the number of conscripts forcibly enlisted.
"170 Deserters on Trial Forcibly Deployed to Northern Frontline"
According to the Russian independent media outlet Verstska, on the 4th (local time), about 170 Russian military deserters who had deserted from the Ukrainian front were forcibly redeployed to the northern front. These deserters were forcibly transferred while on trial, and courts, judges, and even lawyers were not notified of this fact, Verstska pointed out.
Verstska quoted the families of the deserters, stating, "Since January this year, about 800 deserters have been forcibly detained at a military facility in Yekaterinburg, central Russia," adding, "They were coerced into signing contracts agreeing to redeployment to the front lines through beatings, threats, and persuasion. Recently, over 170 deserters were sent to the Kharkiv front in northern Ukraine."
Not only deserters but also soldiers hospitalized for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and delirium symptoms from the battlefield or those on leave are being forcibly redeployed to the front lines. They are assigned to extremely dangerous frontlines with inadequate communication networks, forced to undertake breakthrough operations or hazardous reconnaissance missions.
Forced Deployment Continues Despite Protests by Conscripts' Families
On the 3rd (local time) in Moscow, Russia, families of soldiers mobilized for the Ukraine war are protesting, demanding the return of the soldiers. [Image source=AFP·Yonhap News]
The families of soldiers forcibly mobilized to the front lines are protesting. According to the Russian media outlet Novaya Gazeta, on the 3rd, the human rights organization "Way Home" and families of soldiers held a protest in front of the Ministry of Defense building in Moscow, demanding the return of the soldiers. They held placards reading "Allow conscripted soldiers to return home from the front" and knelt in protest.
The Russian Ministry of Defense engaged in dialogue with the protesters but stated that government orders are required to disband conscripted soldiers and demanded the protesters to petition the Ministry through official channels rather than holding demonstrations. The Ministry of Justice threatened to censor the group, claiming it was a spy organization supported by the West.
However, protests by military families are gradually spreading across Russia. Since the partial mobilization order issued by Russian President Vladimir Putin in September 2022, forcibly mobilizing about 300,000 reservists, the number of soldiers with uncertain fates has increased, intensifying the backlash from military families.
Previously, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced 5,937 military deaths in 2022 but has not disclosed casualty figures since. Estimates by Ukraine and Western countries put Russian military casualties at a minimum of 500,000.
Troop Shortages Amid Intensified Ukraine Strikes on Russian Mainland... Forced Conscription Expected to Increase
The Ukrainian military, which had been on the defensive for some time, has intensified counterattacks following the US and Western announcement of limited permission to strike Russian mainland targets. As a result, the Russian military's troop shortage problem has worsened.
Since the 2nd, the Ukrainian military has launched rocket attacks on targets within Russian territory for the first time. Russian war correspondent Yevgeny Podubny stated on his Telegram account, "Ukraine has begun attacking Russian territory using the US-supported High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS)."
As a result of the attacks, S-300 and S-400 air defense missile batteries deployed in Belgorod, Russia, near the Ukrainian border, were hit, reportedly causing over 1,200 Russian military casualties. With the Ukrainian military counterattacking the mainland air defense network, the Russian military faces the need to strengthen its forces further.
According to CNN, Russia recently announced that prisoners who participate in the Ukraine war will have all charges against them dropped before trial. Despite conscripting over 300,000 troops in two waves last spring and autumn, the worsening troop shortage has led to the deployment of criminals to the front lines.
Data recently compiled by Western intelligence agencies such as the UK Ministry of Defence and NATO indicate that Russia recruits about 30,000 to 40,000 soldiers monthly, but heavy losses on the front lines have caused chronic troop shortages.
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