Russian conscripts being sent unprepared to Ukraine, says Russian human rights group

[brooklynite]

Source: Washington Post

BELGOROD, Russia — Russian conscripts are being forced into signing contracts and taken to serve in Ukraine amid a large-scale attack, human rights group the Committee of the Soldier’s Mothers told The Washington Post in an interview on Friday.

“Issue number one right now, eight out of 10 calls that we get are about the same question: ‘Is my child alive? Where is he?’" said Andrey Kurochkin, the organization’s deputy head.

Russia has mandatory one-year-long military service for all men under the age of 27. According to Russian regulations, conscripts can be sent to a combat zone no earlier than four months into their training. The Committee says it received a barrage of calls saying some conscripts barely served two months and are unprepared for the battlefield.

Kurochkin explains that, according to their mothers, some of the conscripts thought they were heading toward the Ukrainian border for drills, which is how Russia explained its massive buildup for weeks. “Then they are being told: now you are contractors,” he said. “And everyone’s phones are being taken away, while moms are crying and in panic.”

Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/02/25/ukraine-invasion-russia-news/#link-AL7FFRO36NBENP5HOJVMZ2ELMM

[atreides1]

1. "Then they are being told: now you are contractors,"

Which means they're mercenaries not soldiers!

[Bernardo de La Paz]

11. Key point to repeat. Conscripted mercenaries paid by Russian citizens for oligarch benefit

Except Putin is overplaying his hand and the oligarchs aren't going to be pleased with the sanctions.

[Igel]

19. Reading a bit into the translation.

I had a student last year who signed a *contract* to serve in the Marines. Assuming he passed training.

He passed training. The contract's in effect. He's a contractor. In an odd meaning of the word.

Watch out for strange things in translations. Many translations from Russian into English use the words that speakers might have not been intending. Ahem.

Old phrase for it, "Moscow English." Absolutely fluent, often grammatically unblemished, but, we know, there is something just a small bit off with much of it. (Instead of "flawless" and "little bit." It's not *wrong*, it's just not right.)

[Guilded Lilly]

2. Absolutely No regard for honor, truth, or for that matter, LIFE.

Not a surprise in any way.

[niyad]

3. I just had an image of the Mothers taking out the russian madman.

[C_U_L8R]

4. Despite its size, the Russian military is revealing fatal weaknesses.

Military planners around the world are surely noticing Putin and Russia project more image than actual strength.

[CanonRay]

5. I'm put in mind of the Soviet soldiers charging the Germans at Stalingrad

without weapons. And being shot by their officers if they retreated.

[TomWilm]

12. About 1.5 percent of retreating Soviets were shot

A report to the Commissar General of State Security (NKVD chief) Lavrentiy Beria on October 10, 1941, noted that since the beginning of the war, NKVD anti-retreat troops had detained a total of 657,364 retreating, spies, traitors, instigators and deserting personnel, of which 25,878 were arrested, of which 10,201 were sentenced to death by court martial and the rest were returned to active duty.

- The UK executed 306 'cowards' in WW1

Deserting soldiers and conscientious objectors have never been treated fair. Neither today:

- Ukrainian Males Aged 18 to 60 Are Now Banned from Leaving Ukraine.

- Ukrainian journalist and pacifist Ruslan Kotsaba was put under trial, because he published a blog calling to boycott mobilization for armed conflict in Eastern Ukraine. For his expression of antiwar thoughts, he is accused of treason and obstructing military operations. Prosecutor asks the court to sentence him to 13 years of imprisonment.

[gladium et scutum]

15. As Stalin said

"It takes a brave man to be a coward in the Red Army".

[ck4829]

6. Reeks of desperation, but why?

[UpInArms]

7. If you cannot dazzle them with brilliance

then you must baffle them with bullshit

[Cracklin Charlie]

8. Putin seems in a rush.

Everything about it seems rushed. I am wondering if he is in a hurry because of something to do with his health.

Trying to complete his bucket list?

[blue-wave]

9. I read a few articles

which stated that the Russian army forces many of their conscripts to the front lines by beating them. And they are young, just kids 18 or a little older. Think of when you were 18 and you witness some half crazed army officer beating your friend to the front line. How dedicated would you be?

And the officers are of poor quality too, allegedly poorly trained.

[SunSeeker]

18. And a large percentage of the officers are raging alcoholics.

As is the case with the general population in Russia. It's how they cope with their miserable lives.

[TeamProg]

10. How Trump-like. "Pure genius!" n/t

[onetexan]

13. all the more reason for them to give up their arms & surrender so this senseless war is over with

quickly. I'm really hoping this w be the case and the russian people w rise up to depose this horrendous authoritarian jackass.

[Midnight Writer]

14. Remember the much-vaunted Iraqi Royal Guard? Collapsed like a house of cards.

This is conscripted teenagers against people fighting for their homes, families, and ways of life.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

17. The Iraqi Elite Republican Guard.

When some moron wants to say Nazis were Socialists I respond the Hussein's Elite Republican Guard were members of the GOP.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

16. I have read many stories saying that life for a Russian conscript

is beyond brutal.