UK intelligence reports on what Russian soldiers' relatives dissatisfied with

UK Defence Intelligence has stated that the indefinitely prolonged deployment of the Russian military without rotation in the war against Ukraine is increasingly perceived as unacceptable by both Russians and their relatives and close ones.

Source: UK Defence Intelligence review dated 20 November, as reported by European Pravda

The analysts noted that on 7 November 2023, the wives of Russian soldiers likely staged the first public street protest in Moscow since the Russian invasion of Ukraine. 

It was reported that the protesters gathered in the city centre at Theatre Square, displaying posters demanding that their relatives participating in the Russian aggression against Ukraine away be moved away from the front line. The police broke up the protest within minutes, but the protesters' demands remained unchanged.

The review reads that since February 2022, there have been daily instances on social media where Russian wives and mothers have protested against the conditions of service of their loved ones.

However, Russia’s draconian legislation has so far prevented the relatives of service personnel from uniting into an influential lobbying force, as soldiers’ mothers did during the Afghan-Soviet War in the 1980s, UK intelligence states.

Background:

• Earlier, UK Defence Intelligence analysed reports about drug addiction and alcoholism in the Russian occupying forces ranks.
• UK intelligence also reported that the combat capability of the Russian army has deteriorated due to mental health problems among Russian soldiers.
• Prior to that, UK Defence Intelligence officials predicted that Russia would avoid making unpopular political steps, such as announcing new waves of mobilisation, before the 2024 presidential election.

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