March 23, 2026

Pro-War Babushkas Evicted


Pro-War Babushkas Evicted
An unexpected series of setbacks has halted a Russian volunteer organization’s efforts in support of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Dmitry Steshin via KP Photobank

A Russian volunteer group responsible for sending camouflage nets to the frontlines in support of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine has recently faced a major setback: they're facing an eviction notice from their workspace. Surprisingly, the challenge came from Russia’s very own DOSAAF, the Volunteer Society for the Assistance to the Army, Aviation, and Navy.

In March, the group's leader, Tatyana Ermakova, received a letter from DOSAAF stating that the Udmurt volunteers would be evicted from their workshop before their lease expired. Allegedly, the babushkas were in violation of fire safety and sanitary regulations.

These women in Russia's Udmurt Republic started weaving camouflage nets and covers in October 2022, aiding Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The group, called Udmurtia Does Not Abandon Its Own, has been instrumental in supplying materials that bolster Russian aggression, carefully crafting nets that conceal Russian positions.

The group’s leader, 64-year-old Ermakova, makes monthly trips from Izhevsk to Russian-occupied regions of Eastern Ukraine, a nearly 2,500-mile round-trip. She has personally delivered over 1.5 million square feet of nets made by her workshop. Last November, donations from families of Russian soldiers repaired her car after a breakdown, as a way to show gratitude for her war-sustaining efforts. 

Sergei Bogatyrev, chairman of the regional DOSAAF branch, was particularly upset about the production workshop. He commented that “we do not have war in Udmurtia,” referring to the leased space, which looked more like a wartime factory than an office.

 

You Might Also Like

One War Volunteer's Story
  • February 24, 2026

One War Volunteer's Story

Ukrainian author Andriy Lyubka chronicles his work supporting the fight against Russian aggression.
TikTok Gets Cultured
  • January 01, 2022

TikTok Gets Cultured

TikTok isn’t just for kiddies these days. The video streaming platform offers a range of people, such as those of Russia’s many ethnic groups, the opportunity to educate others about their cultures.
Like this post? Get a weekly email digest + member-only deals

Some of our Books

Survival Russian
February 01, 2009

Survival Russian

Survival Russian is an intensely practical guide to conversational, colloquial and culture-rich Russian. It uses humor, current events and thematically-driven essays to deepen readers’ understanding of Russian language and culture. This enlarged Second Edition of Survival Russian includes over 90 essays and illuminates over 2000 invaluable Russian phrases and words.

Little Golden Calf
February 01, 2010

Little Golden Calf

Our edition of The Little Golden Calf, one of the greatest Russian satires ever, is the first new translation of this classic novel in nearly fifty years. It is also the first unabridged, uncensored English translation ever, and is 100% true to the original 1931 serial publication in the Russian journal 30 Dnei. Anne O. Fisher’s translation is copiously annotated, and includes an introduction by Alexandra Ilf, the daughter of one of the book’s two co-authors.

The Little Humpbacked Horse
November 03, 2014

The Little Humpbacked Horse

A beloved Russian classic about a resourceful Russian peasant, Vanya, and his miracle-working horse, who together undergo various trials, exploits and adventures at the whim of a laughable tsar, told in rich, narrative poetry.

Driving Down Russia's Spine
June 01, 2016

Driving Down Russia's Spine

The story of the epic Spine of Russia trip, intertwining fascinating subject profiles with digressions into historical and cultural themes relevant to understanding modern Russia. 

Jews in Service to the Tsar
October 09, 2011

Jews in Service to the Tsar

Benjamin Disraeli advised, “Read no history: nothing but biography, for that is life without theory.” With Jews in Service to the Tsar, Lev Berdnikov offers us 28 biographies spanning five centuries of Russian Jewish history, and each portrait opens a new window onto the history of Eastern Europe’s Jews, illuminating dark corners and challenging widely-held conceptions about the role of Jews in Russian history.

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 the 31-year-old publication of an award-winning publishing house that also creates books, 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