According to research by investigative journalists, the Russian military accidentally published a text about problems with the mobilization for the war against Ukraine – and deleted it shortly afterwards. The Russian portal The Insider published a link to an entry in the web archive, where the text can still be viewed. Moscow has not commented on the alleged release gap.
“Reluctance of a part of society”
In the document, then briefly available in an online magazine of the Russian Ministry of Defense, Russian mobilization officer Yevgeny Burdinsky pointed out two main problems in relation to the autumn recruitment wave: “the unwillingness of part of society to fulfill military obligations ” and “the provision of military equipment and accommodation of personnel”.
Elsewhere, Burdinski blamed “pressure from internet bloggers” for many Russians’ refusal to go to war. Attacks on conscripts are therefore planned for this year, he said.
In September, Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin ordered the mobilization of some 300,000 reservists, triggering an all-out panic in Russia. Hundreds of thousands of Russians fled abroad at the time. Contrary to the Kremlin’s claims to the contrary, many people currently fear that another wave of recruitment could be planned.