Protests by relatives of mobilized soldiers are gaining momentum in Russia – ISW

ISW assessed the strength of the protest movement of relatives of mobilized soldiers in Russia/Collage 24 Channel

Analysts at the American Institute for the Study of War assessed the development of the protest movement in Russia for the demobilization of Russian soldiers. Experts noted that protests have already taken place in the largest cities of the aggressor country.

Analysts noted that such meetings were recorded in Russian cities such as Moscow, St. Petersburg, Vladivostok and Yekaterinburg. This movement is trying to actively censor the Kremlin.

Protest movements of relatives of those mobilized are spreading in Russia

< p>Experts noted that protests by relatives of mobilized Russians continue despite the Kremlin’s attempts to censor them and suppress any social movement.

In particular, on February 10, Russian opposition publications Sota ” and “Mobilization News” published footage showing members of the Russian public movement “The Way Home” laying flowers and gathering at monuments in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Vladivostok and Yekaterinburg, calling for the demobilization of their loved ones.

In addition, opposition Russian publications wrote that members of the “Way Home” movement also visited the campaign headquarters of Russian presidential candidate Vladislav Davankov in Moscow, handing over letters to his team asking for demobilization.

Russian authorities also tried to censor the “Way Home” protest at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Moscow on Manezhnaya Square.

Experts from the Institute for the Study of War noted that the Kremlin authorities’ attempts to censor and discredit the social movement “The Way Home” underscores the Kremlin's desperate desire to shut down these movements, especially ahead of the Russian presidential elections in March 2024.

The “Way Home” movement was born in Russia

• In the fall of 2023, an opposition social movement called “The Way Home” arose in Russia. This movement was organized by relatives of Russian military personnel who expressed dissatisfaction with the conditions in which their husbands were at the front.
• At first, Russian women refrained from criticizing the president of the aggressor country and his policies, but gradually the movement took a more radical position on this issue. Now these women are passionately advocating for the complete demobilization of their men, directly addressing their grievances personally to Vladimir Putin.
• On February 3, as a sign of solidarity, the wives of mobilized Russian soldiers once again gathered for rally in the center of Moscow, demanding the return of their husbands. While previous protests of this nature were consistently ignored by the authorities, this time security forces detained journalists who were documenting the activities of the Way Home movement.