Russian President Vladimir Putin is facing a growing domestic challenge as wives of deployed Russian soldiers are rebelling against the government’s handling of the war in Ukraine. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) issued a statement revealing the situation, suggesting that the Russian authorities are actively working to suppress dissent among military families.
According to the MoD’s latest update on the conflict, the Russian government is resorting to various tactics to quell the discontent among soldiers’ wives, including attempts to offer financial incentives and discrediting them online. This revelation follows small-scale protests that took place in Moscow in November 2023, indicating a simmering discontent among the Russian population.
Independent Russian media outlets conducted research and reported that in recent weeks, the authorities have likely increased cash payments to families in exchange for refraining from participating in protests.
The government’s strategy appears to be an attempt to avoid any escalation of dissent that could further undermine public support for the ongoing military campaign in Ukraine.
The situation escalated further on November 27, 2023, when a prominent online group for soldiers’ wives published a manifesto condemning what they termed as “indefinite mobilisation”. The manifesto highlighted the concerns and frustrations of these women, who have seen their husbands deployed for an extended period, with some having spent over a year on the front lines.
However, on November 30, 2023, the online group found itself targeted with a “fake” warning label, an action believed to be instigated by pro-Kremlin actors. This move suggests that the authorities are actively monitoring and taking measures against any organised opposition to their military policies.
The MoD wrote: “The Russian authorities are likely attempting to quash public dissent by wives of deployed Russian soldiers, including by attempting to pay them off and discrediting them online.
“This follows small-scale protests in Moscow in November 2023.
“Research by independent Russia media outlets and comments by protesting wives themselves suggest that, in recent weeks, the authorities have likely offered increased cash payments to families in return for them refraining from protest.
“On 27 November 2023, one prominent online group for soldiers’ wives published a manifesto against ‘indefinite mobilisation’.
“Around 30 November 2023, the group was pinned with a ‘fake’ warning label – likely at the instigation of pro-Kremlin actors.
“The authorities are likely particularly sensitive to any protests related to those citizens mobilised in September 2022, who have now been at the front line for over a year.”
