September 26, 2024

Another Year, No Signs of Their Husbands


Another Year, No Signs of Their Husbands
Wives and daughters protest in front of the Ministry of Defense holding signs reading "Demobilization" and "Bring dad back, I have been waiting two years." Paulina /Mobilizatsia i Lyudi, Telegram.

On September 21, wives of mobilized soldiers commemorated a grim date. They gathered in front of the Ministry of Defense building in Moscow to protest the second anniversary of the "partial mobilization" of Russia's war in Ukraine.

The wives of the drafted men have long advocated for their return from the front and protested the "indefinite mobilization" of their husbands. One of the most vocal members, Maria Andreyeva, was declared a foreign agent in May.

On September 20, the Telegram channel Put' Domoy (The Way Home), which advocates for the wives of mobilized soldiers, announced the women would go to the Ministry of Defense to ask for the demobilization of their loved ones. Soon after, participants of the movement got warnings from police.

On September 21, twenty women attended the protest with signs reading "Demobilization" and "Bring dad back home, I have been waiting for two years." They were not alone for long. Agitators approached and began recording the protesters, shoving phones in their faces. One of the wives was filmed saying, "You are violating the personal limits of the Ministry of Defense," while the men insulted her. In another video, a passerby tells the women they were paid to protest for their husbands.  Regardless, the Telegram channel Paulina / Mobilizatsia i Lyudi (Paulina / Mobilization and People) announced that the women planned to spend the night in front of the Ministry of Defense.

Before the protest, two journalists from SotaVision, Maxim Seramush and Denis Panteleyev, were detained in front of the Ministry of Defense. They were released shortly after and given "warnings."

Prospects for the return of the soldiers mobilized in September 2022 are still grim. In the fall of 2023, the head of the State Duma Defense Committee, Andrey Kartapolov, said the soldiers drafted in September 2022 would not return until the completion of the "special military operation." President Vladimir Putin confirmed that the draft decree did not include rotation terms.

Meanwhile, many convicted felons who signed contracts with the military have been allowed to return home. 

You Might Also Like

One Country, Two Wars
  • September 16, 2023

One Country, Two Wars

The Kremlin is currently conducting not one, but two horrific wars.
Like this post? Get a weekly email digest + member-only deals

Some of our Books

Fish
February 01, 2010

Fish

This mesmerizing novel from one of Russia’s most important modern authors traces the life journey of a selfless Russian everywoman. In the wake of the Soviet breakup, inexorable forces drag Vera across the breadth of the Russian empire. Facing a relentless onslaught of human and social trials, she swims against the current of life, countering adversity and pain with compassion and hope, in many ways personifying Mother Russia’s torment and resilience amid the Soviet disintegration.

Russian Rules
November 16, 2011

Russian Rules

From the shores of the White Sea to Moscow and the Northern Caucasus, Russian Rules is a high-speed thriller based on actual events, terrifying possibilities, and some really stupid decisions.

Steppe
July 15, 2022

Steppe

This is the work that made Chekhov, launching his career as a writer and playwright of national and international renown. Retranslated and updated, this new bilingual edition is a super way to improve your Russian.

Stargorod: A Novel in Many Voices
May 01, 2013

Stargorod: A Novel in Many Voices

Stargorod is a mid-sized provincial city that exists only in Russian metaphorical space. It has its roots in Gogol, and Ilf and Petrov, and is a place far from Moscow, but close to Russian hearts. It is a place of mystery and normality, of provincial innocence and Black Earth wisdom. Strange, inexplicable things happen in Stargorod. So do good things. And bad things. A lot like life everywhere, one might say. Only with a heavy dose of vodka, longing and mystery.

How Russia Got That Way
September 20, 2025

How Russia Got That Way

A fast-paced crash course in Russian history, from Norsemen to Navalny, that explores the ways the Kremlin uses history to achieve its ends.

At the Circus
January 01, 2013

At the Circus

This wonderful novella by Alexander Kuprin tells the story of the wrestler Arbuzov and his battle against a renowned American wrestler. Rich in detail and characterization, At the Circus brims with excitement and life. You can smell the sawdust in the big top, see the vivid and colorful characters, sense the tension build as Arbuzov readies to face off against the American.

About Us

Russian Life is a publication of a 30-year-young, award-winning publishing house that creates a bimonthly magazine, books, maps, and other products for Russophiles the world over.

Latest Posts

Our Contacts

Russian Life
73 Main Street, Suite 402
Montpelier VT 05602

802-223-4955