Russian Soldiers’ Families Furious Over Moscow Scuffles
Three Years On: A Mother’s Silent Protest Echoes Russia’s mobilization Discontent
Moscow, Russia - Three years ago, Vladimir Putin’s proclamation of a “partial mobilization” sent shockwaves through Russia. Three hundred thousand men were called to the front, many believing their service would last a year. That promise, however, proved hollow. “Rotation is not foreseen,” became the grim reality, leaving families in despair. Mothers and wives, united in their anguish, voiced their fears, writng to Defense minister Sergei Shoigu, “It looks like they became hostages,” demanding the return of their loved ones.
On September 21st, the third anniversary of that fateful mobilization, a lone figure stood in silent protest outside the Ministry of Defense in Moscow. She was a mother, known as Mother Lida, from novosibirsk, her face etched with worry. In her hands, she held a simple poster, devoid of slogans, bearing only two dates: 21/09/2022 – 21/09/2025. to amplify her message, she wore a sports sweatshirt adorned with three medals: “For supporting a special military operation,” “For helping the front,” and “Defender of the Homeland.”
Before she could fully display her message, two armed policemen approached her. They offered a chilling bargain: conceal the poster, and they would allow her protest to continue. But the moment she placed it in her backpack, the facade crumbled. “Put her,k*rwa!” they shouted,violently shoving her into a police car.
“They stopped her very brutally,in front of witnesses,” recounted activist Paulina Safronowa,who was present.”They broke her sweatshirt. They began to push me back.”
Lida’s story is a stark illustration of the plight faced by families of mobilized soldiers and the suppression of dissent in Russia.The movement of mobilized wives,born in 2023 out of the realization that their husbands would not be returning home,has faced relentless pressure.
Initially, these women sought to navigate the treacherous landscape of Russia’s increasingly restrictive laws. They publicly voiced support for the “Special Operation” while simultaneously demanding the demobilization of their loved ones. Some of their statements, however, resonated with a sharper edge than even the slogans of anti-war protests abroad.
One such sentiment, from the “Road Home” movement, encapsulates the growing frustration: “A Satanist-Canal or recidivist are released after half a year, repenting for serial murders at