in the Russian region of Buryatia, families mourn their children who died in battle

Buryatia is a remote region of Russia, on the borders of Siberia. For the Russian authorities, it is a reservoir of men for the army. Here, those who left to fight in Ukraine are displayed on giant panels. But not everyone comes back alive. One of them was sent to the front last winter. He died just two weeks after the start of the conflict, at the age of 35. He has been buried for six months in a cemetery dedicated to soldiers who died in Ukraine.

Seven months after the start of the conflict, a wind of protest is rising in Buryatia. Like many residents, the older sister of the killed soldier denounces the absurdity of this war, and dares to criticize the army of his country. A rare word in Russia. “All our military technology is made of cardboard”she asserts. According to the Pentagon, 80,000 Russian soldiers have been injured or killed since the start of the war in Ukraine.