A freshly dug grave, believed by some locals to hold the body of a Russian paratrooper killed fighting alongside rebels in Ukraine, is seen at the Vybuty public cemetery in the Pskov region of northwest Russia in this August 27, 2014 file photo. REUTERS/Dmitry Markov/Files
Special Report: Moscow Stifles Dissent As Soldiers Return In Coffins -- Reuters
(Reuters) - Late last month Yelena Tumanova was handed the body of her son in a coffin at her home in Russia's Western Volga region. Anton Tumanov was 20 and a soldier serving in the Russian army in the North Caucasus region of Chechnya.
The documents Yelena Tumanova was given with the body raised more questions than they answered - questions about how her son died and about the Russian government’s denials that its troops are in Ukraine. The records do not show Anton Tumanov’s place of death, said human rights activists who spoke to his mother after she got in touch with them.
"Medical documents said there were shrapnel wounds, that is he died from a loss of blood, but how it happened and where were not indicated,” said Sergei Krivenko, who heads a commission on military affairs on Russia’s presidential human rights council.
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My Comment: This is a big story in Russia .... and as much as Moscow tries to dismiss reports of dead Russian soldiers .... social media is abuzz with talk on who has been killed, wounded, or missing. One source that I trust has told me that since July approximately 125 Russian soldiers have been killed in Ukraine, and many more wounded .... but even he is not sure on the exact number .... these are numbers that are only coming out now .... and official denials of Russian soldiers fighting in Ukraine is still policy. What's my take .... this is a huge political problem for Putin. There is almost zero public support within Russia for any Russian military intervention in Ukraine .... so by not only going against the will of the people .... but by trying to hide it .... I know that in the months to come Putin will be held accountable .... and it is not going to be pretty.
4 comments:
Usually it's the length of time that dead troops keep showing up back home and not the actual numbers (unless it's a lot and it's from defeat) that will get public opinion turned adamantly against the conflict and the political group prosecuting it. Re: Viet Nam and Russia's Afghan campaigns.
What has changed is the internet. Moscow has a long history of lying to its citizens (something that all of Russia knows) .... but the internet is amplifying these lies to an unbelievably high level.
Maybe so, but I bet as long as Putin is seen as standing up against the West for Russia and is winning, there won't be much trouble until maybe this time next year. Anyway we'll see.
I agree ... Putin is safe politically. He has positioned himself well .... the wagons have been circled around him. I am just talking on what is happening internally .... as long as the crisis with the West continues, nothing but support for Putin. But internally ... behind closed doors .... complaints and protests are rising on how these families are being treated.
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