It's not just convicts. Russia is forcing its African migrants and students to fight for them in Ukraine. ( www.businessinsider.com )

  • Russia is replenishing its troops with an unlikely source — African migrants and students.
  • Thousands of Africans have been forced to join in Russia's war against Ukraine, per Bloomberg.
  • The country has also been plugging its manpower gaps by sending prison inmates to the battlefield.
Sam_Bass ,

Despot despots. Wiping time moves apace

anticolonialist ,

From KyivPride in Ukraine

Ukrainian conscription officers crashed a Pride festival to kidnap more civilians into forced conscription

SuddenDownpour , (edited )

A separate thread about that would have been appreciated. It's something terrible that should be called out, but posting it as a response to this is like replying: "Ok, and??? Some people of the country they're invading are horrible anyway."

TankovayaDiviziya ,

I don't get what vatniks and Russian trolls are trying to do. Yes, Ukraine is at war and conscription is enforced. So what? What do they expect from a country invaded unprovoked and in a total war as a result?

I think what trolls are trying to do is not trying to demoralise the opponents, but reinforce the propaganda back home in Russia. Russian propaganda is already telling the Russians that they are winning and Ukraine is losing, even though Russia have lost way more soldiers than Ukrainians did in terms of ratio. Yes, Ukraine has fewer people so they are running out of soldiers and recruiting older folks; but Russia has lost plenty more but don't want to tap the huge but politically-sensitive Russian urban population who will not appreciate being drafted.

anticolonialist ,

Its not a 'ok, and' it's pointing out the team you are cheering for is doing the same thing as the team you vilify

nixcamic ,

Isn't all conscription forced?

Also like I wouldn't want to be drafted but isn't it kinda progress for the Ukrainian army to draft gay people? Something most modern armies have avoided?

anticurrent ,

Reminds me of the press articles about how Kin Jung-UN is forcing all men in North Korea to have the same hair cut as him, and these fake news were spread around like wild fire by propagadist western media, who were confident that their people will swallow any outrageous claims made on North Korea, because they know their audience doesn't have an ounce of critical thinking and is just thirsty for fake news to fill up their boredom

floofloof ,

Some African workers have even been threatened with deportation if they do not agree to fight in Ukraine, one European official told Bloomberg.

I wonder how many choose deportation as the least worst option, or whether they're really given the choice.

Railcar8095 ,

Plot twist: they are deported to Ukraine.

anticolonialist ,

Brought to us by the same people that claimed Russia was fighting with WWII shovels, end of war is near, sanctions will kill the Russian economy, etc.

fartington ,

[Thread, post or comment was deleted by the author]

    •
    anticolonialist ,

    That's what happens when shitlibs take over leftist spaces.

    fartington ,

    [Thread, post or comment was deleted by the author]

    •
    sensiblepuffin ,
    @sensiblepuffin@lemmy.world avatar

    Do us all a favor, you two, and just stay... here.

    fartington ,

    [Thread, post or comment was deleted by the author]

    •
    nomous ,

    You sound just like one. I can picture you sitting in a Ford F-150, way too red in the face, wearing wrap around sunglasses and a goatee saying stupid shit like "not my president!"

    feedum_sneedson ,

    more like pissflaps

    GiveMemes ,

    This is a joke right?

    fartington ,

    [Thread, post or comment was deleted by the author]

    •
    GiveMemes ,

    Poe's law :(

    Railcar8095 ,
    • names itself anticolonialist
    • Defends Russian colonization of Ukraine
    • Fails to cope
    anticolonialist ,

    Point to where I defended Russia? I said the propaganda coming from the US is just that, propaganda

    EndlessApollo ,

    Then what are you doing here? Why act like Russia is doing better than it is other than to try and spread Kremlin propaganda?

    anticolonialist ,

    Russia is doing better than reported by US propaganda.

    Theprogressivist ,
    @Theprogressivist@lemmy.world avatar

    Lol, without a hint of irony.

    skulblaka ,
    @skulblaka@startrek.website avatar

    Brought to us by the same people that claimed Russia was fighting with WWII shovels, end of war is near, sanctions will kill the Russian economy, etc.

    Hence why they're now pressing students and immigrants into emergency armed service. Because they're getting their asses beat. This all checks out. A stable country with a well functioning modern military doesn't extend a 3 day operation into 3 years, lose half a million troops, and then press-gang their students into the draft. These are signs of failure.

    anticolonialist ,

    Which is totally nothing like this

    Varyk , (edited )

    Okay so they've used up half of their prisoners and are now forcing students into the military?

    "In fact, Russia has recruited so many inmates that it has started to close down some of its prisons."

    There's no way that they have this troops reserve number that is touted.

    Putin's getting his ass kicked.

    Habahnow ,

    I'm hoping you're right.
    What I could imagine is that he just wants to burn through the prisoners since if they don't make it back, that's less prison costs. So even if he has reserve troops available, he'd rather use prisoners first.

    skulblaka ,
    @skulblaka@startrek.website avatar

    If that was his plan he should have sent them in first before he lost 470,000 registered soldiers. This is a desperation move, and if not that, then it is one of absolutely colossal foolishness. Neither is a good look for Putin.

    Aux ,

    Prisoners go to war for a limited time, then they get freedom. First waves of prisoners are home now and cause a lot of issues.

    TankovayaDiviziya ,

    Yup, in a year or two this will piss off many Russians.

    Treczoks ,

    He burns whatever he can to avoid touching people in Moscow or St.Petersburg, because that would hit back.

    ChicoSuave ,

    He gets away with it, which is why he's doing it. Once other countries close their borders to Russia, the blood fued to retake Crimea will become very real to Russians.

    TankovayaDiviziya , (edited )

    Not just that, Kremlin recruits people from poorer regions who desperately needs money so there is still plenty support.
    https://russiapost.info/regions/majority

    UltraMagnus0001 ,

    Just like Vietnam

    foggy ,

    Lmao. Students. Nice. That'll earn you support.

  • All
  • Subscribed
  • Moderated
  • Favorites
  • •
  • [email protected]
  • kbinchat
  • All magazines
    •