Another war away from the front is being waged by the wives of Russian soldiers, who are publicly criticizing the Russian authorities despite a ban on any criticism of the war in Ukraine.

In particular, it is about their wives 300,000 reservists currently fighting on the Ukrainian front.

The women met through social media and have created a group called The Way Home. They have different views on the war with some supporting it and some skeptical of the Kremlin’s “special military operation”. What seems to unite them is the belief that their men have given their support in the war and should return home to their families.

However, their point of view is not shared by the Authorities.

In Russia, public criticism of anything related to the war carries risks. Most women choose their words very carefully. They know that there are a number of laws now in force in Russia to punish dissenters.

“At first we trusted our government,” says Antonina, one of the women. “But should we trust them now? I do not trust anyone”.

Russian women campaigning for the return of their husbands, sons or brothers have come under fire from different quarters.
Kremlin supporters refer to women as “the finger of the West”.

In a recent interview with the Fontanka news website, Russian lawmaker Andrei Kartapolov, who heads the Russian Duma’s defense committee, argued that the call for demobilization was the work of “Russia’s enemies.” It seemed to say that the Ukrainian military or the CIA was behind it.

Kartapolov also invoked World War II. “You can imagine a delegation of wives coming to the Kremlin in the fall of 1942 and saying to Stalin: ‘Let these men who were called up in 1941 go home. They have been fighting for a year already.

No one would ever think to do that.”
Maria Andreeva, whose husband and cousin are fighting in Ukraine, called Kartapolov’s comments offensive.

“He dares to compare the special military operation to the Second World War,” it says. “Then Russia’s goal was survival. We had been attacked. There was full mobilization and martial law. It’s the complete opposite of what’s happening now.”

Maria says she is not only campaigning to bring back her family members. He wants to prevent more Russians from being called up and sent to the front lines.

“We don’t want a second wave of conscription,” he says. “We are against the use of civilians in a military conflict. And we want all Russian citizens to understand that this can affect them as well.”