President Vladimir Putin has been urged to order a massive mobilization of millions of men and to close the borders in order to guarantee victory in Ukraine by a patriotic group that provides support to the widows of Russian soldiers.
On Tuesday, mourners expressed their grief and anger at a rare public commemoration in Russia for the 89 soldiers killed by a Ukrainian strike on New Year’s Eve in Makiivka, a town in the eastern region of Donetsk that has been partially held by separatists since 2014. Makiivka is located in the Donetsk region.
Moscow raised the death toll from the initial 63 to 89 late Tuesday.
The Soldiers’ Widows of Russia group wrote in a Telegram post, “We ask our President, Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin, to allow the Russian Army to carry out a large-scale mobilization.”
“We request that our President and Supreme Commander-in-Chief prevent men of military age from leaving Russia. Furthermore, we have a full upright right to do this: Our husbands died defending these men, but if they flee, who will protect us?
Live blog: Use of cellphones by Russian troops ‘main reason’ for 89 losses
On September 21, he gave the order for what he called a “partial mobilization,” which was Russia’s first since World War II. Around 300,000 more men were drafted, but several hundred thousand more Russian men fled abroad to stay out of the military.
Last month, Putin stated that there was no requirement for additional mobilization.
A delegate of the widows’ gathering told the Reuters news organization that all fit Russian men ought to be prepared to protect the Homeland.
“Totally different resources will be required for the upcoming war: economic, psychological, and human,” she stated to Reuters.
“It is my duty to protect the Motherland.”
There are hundreds of groups just like the "Soldiers' Widows of Russia." They pop into existence, bombard their users with posts, hope something goes viral, then disappear. It's (probably) fake, but it gives grieving - angry - Russians a place to gather their thoughts & feelings.
‘Now is not the time to be cowardly’
Putin has been portraying the conflict over the past few months as part of a much larger historical conflict between Russia and the West, which the head of the Kremlin claims wants to divide and destroy Russia.
The West denies that it intends to destroy Russia.
In a dreary New Year’s Eve message, Putin said that safeguarding the homeland was the consecrated obligation of all Russians and guaranteed triumph in Ukraine.
The West and Ukraine claim that Putin has no reason to wage what they describe as an occupation war in the style of an imperial power.
A representative of the widows group stated that it has contacts with the Kremlin administration and began working approximately two months ago to assist the wives of soldiers killed in Ukraine.
The representative stated, “We are in constant contact with the presidential administration and, if necessary, we transmit requests to it in order to receive this or that support.”
The group said that it was time to take tough measures to defend against the evil forces forming around Russia’s borders, citing Soviet leader Josef Stalin.
The group stated, “Today, all the evil in the world has united against Russia — the entire Western world has turned against us.”
“There is no other option but us or them.”
In 1942, Stalin issued Order No. 227, more commonly referred to as the “Not a step back” order.
Despite the fact that thousands of Soviet soldiers were killed by their own side for being accused of being cowards, it was an effort to establish discipline within the Red Army.
“Stalin did not consider ratings or the discontent of dissidents: “He only thought about winning,” the group stated. Cowardice is not appropriate at this time.”
Source: Reuters
