Thread by @ChrisO_wiki

1/ Russian conscripts are reportedly being forced to sign contracts to become professional soldiers and fight in the Kursk region. The Russian army appears to be evading a law prohibiting conscripts without training and less than 4 months' service from participating in combat. ⬇️

2/ ASTRA reports that conscripts from the 290th Missile Regiment, based in Russia's Mari El Republic, are being made to sign contracts. Parents are upset, but appear to be powerless.

3/ The mother of one conscript says: "My son called and said that the command had already compiled lists for sending conscripts to the Kursk region. They answered all their questions - this is Russian territory and you must defend it. He has been serving since May of this year.

4/ "He also said that they are persuading everyone to sign contracts."

Alexey Mashkevich, a journalist from Ivanovo, says that his son – serving since the spring of 2024 in the 217th Regiment of the 98th Airborne Division – is also being sent to the Kursk region.

5/ Mashkevich wrote on the Russian social media network VK: "And what would you feel now – patriots and not – if you found out that your son, a conscript in the Airborne Forces, after the young fighter course, will be sent from Ivanovo to the Kursk region?"

6/ Another VK user responded: "I understand you better than anyone else, I haven’t been able to come to my senses for 2 days after this news… Our sons are in the same company."

7/ A woman commented: "Our children are also sent there. Conscripts from Kamenka, Leningrad Region. And also after the KMB [Young Fighter Course]... Unfortunately, this is the reality of our life. Strength and patience. Health to my son."

8/ Conscripts and contract (professional) soldiers serve under very different terms. Conscripts serve for only 1 year, cannot be sent to fight outside Russia's borders, and cannot be sent to combat without at least 4 months' service and training in a military specialisation.

9/ The conscripts in this case clearly don't meet the latter criteria. As recruits from the spring 2024 intake, they won't have completed their 4 months' service, and if they have only just completed their Young Fighter Course (basic training) they will be barely trained.

10/ As conscript soldiers, they have to serve indefinitely – at least until the end of the war in Ukraine – and they can be sent to any of Russia's conflict zones, including Ukraine. They will get better pay but probably won't receive any of the recruitment bonuses.

11/ It's likely that Russia is turning to conscripts because of its shortage of contract soldiers, who it appears are fully committed in the ongoing battles within Ukraine. /end

Source:
t.me/astrapress/629…