Russia Penalizes Officers Who Sent Civilian Conscripts To The Frontlines In Ukraine War

Twelve army officers were prosecuted on Tuesday in Russia after they reportedly sent hundreds of civilian conscripts to fight in Ukraine, months after Russian President Vladimir Putin denied the use of conscripts in the war.

The officers, who have largely remained unnamed, went through disciplinary proceedings after their act was found out, including the potential of being dismissed from the army, as the use of conscripts continues to be unpopular in Russia, according to Reuters.

“According to supervision of the Western Military District ... about 600 conscript soldiers were drawn into the special military operation, all of whom returned as soon as possible,” military prosecutor Arthur Yegiev said.

The continued war in Ukraine and the reported thousands of soldiers killed during the conflict has raised concern in the country that young men would be drafted by the government to fight for the country, which Putin himself has denied early on, The Moscow Times reported.

Officials in the Defense Ministry, however, admitted that there were some instances of conscripts being used in the fight against Ukraine, although they have all been reportedly recalled since Putin vowed that only professional soldiers would be involved in the operation, another Reuters article reported.

“Unfortunately, we have discovered several facts of the presence of conscripts in units taking part in the special military operation in Ukraine. Practically all such soldiers have been pulled out to Russia,” the Russian Defense Ministry said.

Ukrainians, however, have posted online and through official channels of civilian conscripts being captured during the war, giving credence to the idea that Russia may be drafting some of its young men in an attempt to make up for lost manpower.

There are also witnesses in Russian families that spoke of young men being recruited into military training and service, and that many of them have the potential of being sent to Russia to fight in the war on Ukraine.

“I am not sure what will happen tomorrow,” an elderly woman, whose son she said was conscripted to the army, said.