Absent Russian Conscripts in Kursk Event
Russian President Putin ensures only skilled militaries will engage in war zones, but the Kremlin tends to paint homefront combat differently. As per reports, specific conscripts are being drafted for this purpose, with numerous casualties already recorded.
In the ongoing Ukrainian counterattack in the Kursk region, several Russian conscripts have either been captured or are declared missing, as per media reports. At least 81 conscripts are reported missing, and another 38 have been identified as prisoners in videos released by Ukrainian military, according to the BBC's Russian service. These figures are derived from online pleas from relatives who have not heard from their recruits since the onset of the Ukrainian offensive.
At the commencement of his invasion of Ukraine, Putin declared that only mercenaries and volunteers would be dispatched to war zones. However, the Kremlin does not classify Kursk's defense under the controversial "military special operation." Russian authorities remain mum on their casualties in Kursk. Nonetheless, at least two conscripts have perished in combat since early August. The actual figure is presumed to be significantly higher.
As per media reports, conscripts from different regions are being transported to Kursk. The Russian military leadership aims to continue its operations in Ukraine without overly withdrawing professional soldiers from the occupied territory. However, the potential risk for the Kremlin is a swift decrease in public approval for the war should significant conscript losses be recorded. The commander of the Chechen special unit "Achmat," Apti Alaudinow, has already dismissed mounting criticism by stating that Russia does not require untrained young men failing to defend their country.
In light of the ongoing conflict, international communities are expressing concern over the reported use of conscripts in combat zones, specifically in the Ukrainian war. The attack on Ukraine has led to a surge in conscript casualties, raising question marks about the Russian government's commitment to its statement about only mercenaries and volunteers participating in war zones.
