Russian Soldiers' Wives Post Video Begging They Be Returned From Ukraine

The families of Russian soldiers from Buratiya, a remote, impoverished region in eastern Siberia posted a widely viewed video demanding that their troops be returned home from Ukraine. 

Soldiers from that region are over-represented in Russian forces as army service is often their only economic option. They have suffered higher than average casualties in the Ukraine fighting - and have also participated in some notorious atrocities. That their families took the risk to publicly demand they be returned home may be a signal of wider disaffection with the war within Russia. JL 

Robyn Dixon and Mary Ilyushina report in the Washington Post:

A group of wives of Russian soldiers fighting in Ukraine since the invasion began on Feb. 24 recorded an extraordinary video appeal to local authorities to bring their men home alive. (They are) from Buryatia, an impoverished Russian republic in eastern Siberia where many young men join the military as contract soldiers because of a lack of employment. The region has suffered some of the highest casualty rates in the war. The women identified themselves as families of the 5th Tank Brigade, Unit 46108. 30 soldiers from the unit have been killed in Ukraine.

A group of wives of Russian soldiers fighting in Ukraine since the invasion began on Feb. 24 recorded an extraordinary video appeal to local authorities to bring their men home alive. One of them called the war “unjust” in comments on social media and said authorities must take the blame for any more men killed.

The video showed 16 adults, almost all women, and a child from Buryatia, an impoverished Russian republic in eastern Siberia where many young men join the military as contract soldiers because of a lack of employment. The region has suffered some of the highest casualty rates in the war.

The women identified themselves as the families of the 5th Tank Brigade of Tatsin, military Unit 46108. At least 30 soldiers from the unit have reportedly been killed in Ukraine.

One of the women read a statement calling on the Buryatia governor, Alexei Tsydenov, to investigate and bring the men home. The women said many of their husbands were suffering ill health and injuries. Before the invasion, they were deployed starting in January for “training exercises.”

“The servicemen are exhausted morally and physically. They all have mild to moderate concussions. The soldiers have been in the field from January to the present day. Many people have flu-like diseases,” the statement said.

One of the women, Vera Partilkhaeva, called the situation “lawlessness” in comments on social media, according to Sibir Realii, a Russian-language outlet affiliated with U.S.-funded Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.

“Everyone is afraid. The command has been given to be silent! Let the death of every military man in this unjust war be on your conscience!” she wrote.

“We demand the return of our sons and husbands to their homeland.”

She deleted the video statement and her profile Wednesday, and local media reported that she was not taking calls. Russia has passed a strict law barring any public statement critical of the military, with “fake news” about the armed forces or the war in Ukraine punishable with a sentence of up to 15 years prison.

Local media reported that the governor agreed to meet the women Sunday.