Partial mobilization in Russia: uncertainty and anxiety

Russian reservists during training, October 4, 2022. REUTERS - ALEXANDER ERMOCHENKO

Text by: Anissa El Jabri Follow

6 mins

The mayor of Moscow announced on Monday the end of the partial mobilization in the Russian capital.

An announcement that does not bode well for the future: the partial mobilization of hundreds of thousands of reservists to fight in Ukraine is not complete " 

", the Kremlin affirmed on Tuesday through the voice of its spokesperson.

The lack of prospects for tomorrow and the anxiety remain.

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From our correspondent in Moscow,

These images of Moscow on Monday have been watched thousands of times: a military police station – that's what mobilization centers are called in Russia – and closed faces waiting their turn to be formally enlisted.

Then suddenly: " 

 ," announces an official.

Announcement followed by the formalization by the mayor of the Russian capital: quota filled, end of operations.

Except that in reality, this announcement has no legal value.

Reminder from the Kremlin spokesman this Tuesday morning: the real end, only a presidential decree can proclaim it.

Concretely, it is therefore always possible to summon a Muscovite who meets the criteria.

A recent example that pleads in this direction: in Buryatia in the east of the country, on September 30, the regional manager declared “ 

 ”;

then, on October 12, the military official announced a “ 

 ”.

Vladimir Putin himself, last Friday, mentioned the end of October deadline for mobilization.

But everyone has it in mind: the front line is not stabilized.

This question turns in all private conversations: what if another wave of mobilization is announced in November or December?

We also dispense with this advice from the few civil society organizations still authorized on Russian soil and from specialized lawyers: that those who fled do not return, no one is safe.

closure of mobilization centers in Moscow announced two hours before: it's for 2 p.m. today, says the mayor of the Russian capital https://t.co/COLrGGJDEi

— Anissa El Jabri (@anissaeljabri) October 17, 2022

Another possibility also weighs in this already heavy climate: martial law (and its corollary, the closing of borders).

The possibility of using it was passed at the same time as all the laws toughening the penalties for refusing to put on a uniform or deserting on the battlefield.

Heavy climate, uncertain future?

In any case, since September 21 and the announcement of the mobilization, in all the polls, the Russians now say they are mostly anxious and anxious.

Those at the front sometimes also resent those who refuse to join them or have the means to leave, “ 

 ,” according to a prominent blogger.

An architect from Moscow – he will not give his name – took a plane ticket to an airport in southern Russia before buying a bicycle.

Hiding in the back of a taxi he had paid for to avoid too much scrutiny, then on two wheels, that's how he crossed the border to Georgia.

After four days of poor sleep, he joined other young men in his situation, " 

 ", but determined not to come back no matter what. in Russia.

This editor in an advertising agency in Kyrgyzstan describes him the “ 

” which followed his feeling of “ 

” at the announcement of the partial mobilization.

" 

 ," he said.

Bishkek for him is just a temporary refuge, as he works remotely at his Russian company and his employers, he says, " 

".

He does not know how long he will be able to keep his job and therefore his income.

Moreover, he explains via a telephone conversation held by encrypted messaging, “ 

»

Never, however, is there any doubt about his choice.

For him, taking up arms can only be justified " 

 ".

A refugee in Uzbekistan, this 30-year-old Muscovite does not have a good relationship with his relatives.

This is a very big problem for me, they only realized that something terrible was happening when the mobilization was announced.

Before that, they remained in loyalty to the country.

Such moments are very difficult, when you are arguing with your parents, just because you tell them that killing people is wrong.

All that just because their past is Soviet, they were brought up differently.

I have a lot of Ukrainian friends and I absolutely cannot understand how anyone can pretend to solve problems in this way.

At least I've been spared all of this so far.

I went to protest demonstrations, even though we saw that it was useless.

But when the mobilization was announced, we all realized that

we could be forced to participate in that, even if it is something that we absolutely condemn.

The fear of dying is normal.

But what was decisive for me was that I could be forced to fight.

I'm not that kind of person.

Those who left at the end of February-beginning of March sometimes look at those who join them today with distance.

Not this engineer who dreamed of a career in Canada and who now lives in Kyrgyzstan.

The first wave of emigration was people who had the means and a job they could do remotely, people who could leave without losing their quality of life.

Today, these are men who literally go at full speed.

They run and escape for their lives.

He returned to Russia to see his relatives a few days before the mobilization, before leaving the country again.

In a few months already for him, the country has changed profoundly: “ 

 »

Without military experience, and in total mistrust vis-à-vis the authorities, Danil is convinced: if he returns today to Russia, he can be mobilized at any time.

►To re-read: Russia: with the partial mobilization, military equipment is snapped up in Moscow

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