Russian conscripts sent to Ukraine frontline despite Kremlin’s promises

Russian military authorities continue to deploy conscript soldiers in the border zone with Ukraine, Ukrainian military observer Oleksandr Kovalenko writes on his Telegram channel. This is made despite promises by Vladimir Putin, a war criminal wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC), to avoid sending conscripts to the front lines.

Recently, five conscripts were killed in the village of Nechoteyevka, located in the Shebekinsky district of Belgorod region, just 10 kilometers from the Ukrainian border. These soldiers were sent to an unprepared position in a near-frontline area. They were tasked with building their own shelter, a dugout, which was hit by artillery, resulting in their deaths.

"It seems that the experience of sending conscripts to border areas, particularly in the Kursk region, did not prompt the military command to reassess this practice," Kovalenko underscores. 

Alternatively, the shortage of human resources may be driving the decision to deploy conscripts more actively in the border zone, effectively filling the gaps. The border area between Ukraine and Russia has become increasingly similar to a conflict zone, where the risk for soldiers remains high.

• Russia has suffered political, economic, and moral decline under Vladimir Putin’s leadership, making strong international measures essential to isolate it and counter its harmful actions.