If there is no question of a new mobilization in Russia, the Russian army still needs reinforcements.
The Leningrad Station in Moscow is beginning to fill up: it is 5 p.m., and on the forecourt a young man is distributing leaflets. A little further, his colleague holds a small stand in the colors of the Russian army. Both explain that they were hired a week ago to promote contracts in the army. However, the Kremlin still rejects the hypothesis of a new mobilization since that of September, which made it possible to recruit more than 300,000 men who left for the front in Ukraine. There is no question of a second wave, said Vladimir Putin’s spokesperson once more in early April.
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However, this document that they distribute enumerates the advantages: free registration at the crèche for children, home help for elderly parents, free medicine and above all the salary. An annuity of around 250,000 rubles per month for those who go to Ukraine, the equivalent of 3,000 euros, or six times the average salary in Russia. But that doesn’t convince Andrei, who examines the prospectus. “Do you think giving your life for 250,000 rubles is acceptable? Well no, not at all. If some want to fetch money there, at least they should decently support us. 250,000 rubles is nothing“, he decides.
For the past few days, stands like this have been popping up all over Russia. The local authorities explain that they have objectives to fulfill: Moscow must find 27,000 volunteers. In Nizhny Novgorod, the document distributed even promises bonuses for each kilometer gained on the front. It also provides for compensation, up to three million rubles (35,000 euros) in the event of injury. But nothing is indicated in the event of death.
An email for reservists
This campaign is also part of the adoption, Wednesday, April 12, of a law by the Duma which provides that henceforth the future mobilized of the army can be by electronic means. A measure that will make it more difficult to escape the army. This measure also targets those who have already fled abroad to escape the first wave of mobilization last September, playing cat and mouse with military police stations. To be valid, mobilization orders had to be delivered by hand. Many therefore did not answer the agents who knocked on their door, or took a vacation in the countryside, or even left the country altogether, since nothing prevented them from doing so.
It even seems that the power accommodated the departure abroad of the most refractory, suspected of being political opponents. But for months, the most radical fringe of the regime has been calling for sanctions once morest these fugitives, some of whom are still working remotely for their Russian company or continue to receive certain income such as rent from abroad. From now on, the summons will be sent to the public service account that most Russians have, and considered received as soon as it is sent. Those who do not report to the military police station will no longer be able to rent or sell their accommodation or their car and those who are still in Russia will be prohibited from leaving the territory. What relaunch the great fear of a new mobilization, which the Kremlin denies for the moment.
