Ukrainian offensive exposes Russian conscripts' lack of readiness
At least 159 Russian conscript soldiers have been killed in recent days during the Ukrainian offensive on Russian territory, according to obituaries appearing on the internet. Mothers of the fallen soldiers have written a petition to Vladimir Putin.
12:43 PM EDT, August 11, 2024
In August, it will be exactly two and a half years since the war in Ukraine began. During this time, both sides have repeatedly taken the initiative.
For several days, the Ukrainian offensive on Russian territory has been ongoing. It has surprised not only observers but also the Russians themselves, who—just before the Ukrainians entered the Kursk region—moved soldiers to the neighboring Belgorod region. As a result, only inexperienced and poorly armed conscripts remained in this area.
These conscripts quickly showed they were not capable of defending the land. Many of them surrendered without a fight or were killed.
Russian mothers appeal to Vladimir Putin
At the age of 22, unafraid to give his life, he stood in defense of children, women, and the elderly of the Kursk region, reads the obituary of 22-year-old soldier Georgiy Jaderny, who was killed during the Ukrainian offensive on Russian territory.
The deaths of young and inexperienced soldiers quickly prompted a reaction from society. Oksana Deeva, one of the mothers of a conscript serving in the area around the village of Korenewo, created a petition addressed to Vladimir Putin, asking for the conscripts to be removed from war zones. The petition has already been signed by 4,500 people.
We, the mothers of conscripts, ask for their removal from the areas of military operations. They have no experience in repelling the enemy or in handling weapons. Today, a full-scale offensive is taking place on our territory. Save the lives of soldiers unprepared for warfare, reads the plea quoted by the "Ważnyje Istorie" portal.
Some relatives of the conscripts admit that the number of killed and arrested is significantly higher than the official data provided by the army. Despite this, the Russian command is still transferring more conscript soldiers to the Kursk region.
