The Kremlin has been ramping up its production of soldiers for the ongoing conflict. Across social media platforms, Russian citizens are expressing their discontent and sharing strategies to evade military conscription. The group Iditie Liesom has successfully assisted 30,000 conscripts and soldiers in avoiding service, which is equivalent to two divisions. Russian prisoners of war. Soldiers, not wanting to fight, often surrender themselves.
Since the commencement of hostilities in Ukraine, the Russian military has suffered significant losses, with 505,000 troops either killed, wounded, captured, or missing. To make up for these substantial casualties, the Kremlin needs to enlist new conscripts. Presently, the monthly draft only brings in around 15,000 individuals, but a mere 6,000 to 12,000 of them make it to the front lines. The remaining recruits are stationed in the rear.
According to reports from Russian media outlets, there has been a significant decrease in the number of volunteers among convicts and individuals from impoverished regions. In urban areas, there have been instances of roundups, as well as an increase in attempts to escape or evade military service.
The Iditie Liesom organization channel features numerous accounts of Russian deserters, providing a platform for their stories to be shared.
In a personal testimony, one individual who goes by the pseudonym Ali shared his experience. At the age of 23, he had successfully avoided military service for five years but was apprehended on the street in December of last year. Ali was then transported to the induction center in a van.
To avoid conscription, Ali feigned an illness and managed to escape while being taken to the hospital. However, the gendarmerie initiated a search for him a week later.
Ali later learned from his mother that the police and military personnel visited her house daily, threatening her with the involvement of a special brigade that would locate him within 12 hours, regardless of his whereabouts. After two months, flyers with his photograph were even posted in locations where he had never resided.
Currently, Ali is in hiding in Turkey, seeking refuge from the authorities.
The narratives shared by the escapees aim to motivate the upcoming draftees, who may lack the bravery to flee from almost certain death or the dread of facing trial. In Russia, desertion carries a penalty of 15 years in prison, while voluntarily surrendering to captivity can lead to a maximum of ten years behind bars.
Nevertheless, there is a steady stream of individuals eager to evade military service. The organization Iditie Liesom plays a crucial role in assisting these individuals by offering legal support and facilitating border crossings. According to the organization, ever since the Kremlin intensified the draft in 2023, they have been inundated with 1,200 to 1,500 pleas for assistance daily, not just weekly.
Escape from death
Individuals who have already advanced to the front lines and have no desire to engage in combat frequently surrender to the Ukrainian forces. The Russian authorities have not publicly disclosed the exact number of their soldiers who have been taken captive. The Ukrainian forces, on the other hand, maintain a cautious stance, merely acknowledging the presence of "thousands of prisoners" and the challenges associated with locating appropriate facilities to house them.
Most Russian soldiers evade, depart, or abscond from the hospital during unit relocations. Following a short period of recovery, severely wounded soldiers are even sent back to the front by command. They engage in combat until they perish or are left incapacitated.
Deserting soldiers typically attempt to flee to Ukraine. The former border between the two countries is heavily monitored, with checkpoints overseeing all vehicles exiting the conflict area. The highest likelihood of evading capture is through feigning injury or securing leave, the latter of which can be obtained through bribery or coercion.
Authorization from a superior is required to take leave or receive supplies at the rear of the front. Frequently, a forged medical certificate or a fabricated report of a relative's demise is sufficient. Such documents can be purchased on Telegram channels for $120. "There is no time for verification at the front," note the Russian soldiers.
For nearly two years, advertisements have circulated on various social media platforms promoting painless services for breaking arms. The cost is relatively low, ranging from $12 to $24, allowing the conscript to gain entry to a hospital.
Iditie Liesom issues guidelines, which are shared on its platform and ingrained in the minds of those seeking escape: do not return to your usual place of residence; relocate to a different area where you have no connections; refrain from using ATM cards and rely on cash transactions.
Furthermore, it is recommended to steer clear of major cities like Moscow and St. Petersburg, where surveillance cameras are prevalent. Changing to a SIM card not linked to a passport is also advised.
We are ready to break Russian law
Grigory Swerdlin, the former leader of a foundation in St. Petersburg that provided support to the homeless, is the mastermind behind the Iditie Liesom project. In March 2022, he fled to Georgia, along with approximately one million other Russians, and has been residing there ever since.
Following the announcement of mobilization in October 2022, Swerdlin established this organization. In the first six months alone, he managed to assist nearly 6,800 Russians in avoiding deployment to the frontlines. Presently, he has aided approximately 30,000 individuals in concealing themselves, which is equivalent to two mechanized divisions.
Swerdlin proudly showcases his endeavors on various online platforms. He emphasizes that what distinguishes their project from others is their willingness to defy Russian laws and openly discuss their actions.
However, he refrains from discussing the volunteers who operate within Russia and the targeted countries. Except for the leader, the organization operates covertly. Any exposed volunteer may face severe consequences, including up to ten years in a penal colony, for acting against the interests of the Russian Armed Forces.
Swerdlin expresses his perspective on Telegram, stating, "Many of the individuals we have assisted in leaving the country would have inevitably found themselves on the frontlines, engaging in combat against Ukrainians, had it not been for our intervention."
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