In the Donbass, the wives of conscripts are waiting for their “mobilized” husbands in the Russian army
A member of the Russian forces in Marinka, Donetsk region, March 22, 2022. REUTERS - ALEXANDER ERMOCHENKO
Text by: RFI Follow
2 mins
On the Russian side, it is officially the army and volunteers who have signed a contract who are fighting.
But in the Donbass, just before the start of the “
special operation
” as the Kremlin calls it, the authorities had decreed general mobilization.
All men between the ages of 18 and 55 were called to the front.
Report in Donetsk.
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We meet her in the dog shelter where she works.
Nastya is 27 years old, with curly brown hair and big blue eyes, surrounded by dark circles.
“
My husband serves in the army.
He was conscripted.
He calls about once a week
,” she said.
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While waiting for the weekly phone call, she is working hard.
“
Here, there are normally around 40 employees.
But there are fewer men now.
They especially conscripted those who were hunters.
In particular, they took our veterinarian and our director.
The most important people in the company
,” she continues.
This subject of general mobilization is very sensitive.
One exchanges while murmuring in the kitchens of the houses of the anecdotes of conscripts professors or students sent to the face after having had some rudiments of training on the handling of a rifle.
“
Taking a gun and going to fight is another story
”
“
Those who were prepared for war, they went there themselves.
But this is obviously not the case for everyone.
For some, picking up a gun and going into battle is another story.
And of course we were a bit shocked.
We did not expect such a large conscription
, ”explains another.
The exchange with her is done on a bench in the center of Donetsk.
She will not reveal her identity.
Her daughter's father, her ex-husband, was also called within hours.
“
He was enlisted through his work.
The conscription notice came and he left.
We thought it was just for a few days, a compulsory exercise.
Could he not have gone?
It's not his way of thinking.
For him, an order is an order
, ”she also assures.
Like the vast majority of the inhabitants of the self-proclaimed republic of Donetsk, she expects only one thing: the total conquest of this region, and its integration into Russia.
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