the training of mobilized Russians preparing for the front

The concentrated gaze, the gestures not yet quite assured. Russia is preparing to send reinforcements to the front. “It’s coming very soon. We don’t know when exactly. When we’re prepared, we’ll leave“, says a soldier, in the Donbass controlled by the Russians. These civilians have been mobilized. The Russian army has promised to train them for several weeks. There are a thousand here, still in training. “I did my military service, but it wasn’t like that. Everybody’s got a family at home, nobody’s happy“, adds another.

Exceptionally, a team from France Télévisions was able to attend the training of the mobilized. The question of their preparation and their equipping is sensitive in Russia. There is no question of filming men without helmets or bulletproof vests. Three weeks ago, one of them was a railroad employee. He will be at the front in a few days. He is only 21 years old. “I wouldn’t say I’m a fan, but if my country needs it, that’s fine.”, he believes. For some, taking up arms is obvious. “I’m exactly where I need to be“, said another.

Vladimir Putin claims that two thirds of the 300,000 men he wants to mobilize have already been enlisted. “On the other hand, he did not say if some of them have already lost their lives“, reports Luke The crossspecial envoy to the Donetsk region, who states that “several Russian media speak of deaths“, without it being officially confirmed for the moment.