1/ Pro-Russian volunteers who fought with the Donetsk and Luhansk 'People's Militias' prior to 2022 are being erroneously listed as deserters, rounded up, and sent to their likely deaths in assault squads due to a bureaucratic error by the Russian Ministry of Defence. ⬇️
2/ In 2014, the Russian-occupied portions of Ukraine's Donetsk and Luhansk regions set up their own 'People's Militias' as a local defence force, with Russian aid and equipment. They were volunteer forces which took part in the initial fighting and subsequent defensive efforts. 3/ The militias included not only local residents, but thousands of volunteers – often far-right nationalists – from Russia who came to Donetsk to 'defend' the region from 'Ukrainian aggression'. Many subsequently settled there after being discharged from the militias. 4/ In 2022, after the Russian invasion, the 'People's Militias' were absorbed into the Russian Army after the two regions were annexed by Russia. However, all the volunteers – even those who had been discharged – were retrospectively categorised as mobilised. 5/ Some people were even listed as contract soldiers, although they had never signed a contract with the Russian MOD. Their discharges were effectively overridden, often years after returning to civilian life – in many cases with serious health problems like missing limbs. 6/ Because contract and mobilised service is indefinite, former militia members have thus found themselves being listed as deserters without even being aware of it. Many have been arrested and given the usual punishment of being sent to their deaths in penal assault units. 7/ This situation has been ongoing for at least two years. The issue has been so frequent and widespread, affecting thousands of people, that it has been given its own nickname: "Problem 500" (Проблема-500) (after the unofficial 'cargo code' for deserters). 8/ In the latest episode of 'Problem 500', the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs has listed a prominent nationalist and former volunteer fighter, Dmitry Bastrakov, as wanted, to the outrage of many similarly nationalist Russian warbloggers.
9/ Bastrakov is the founder of the nationalist publication "Chernaya Sotnya" (Black Hundred) and the "Lista" bookstore. It specialises in historical literature, memoirs, and works by Russians abroad, with a particular focus on Russian nationalist works.
10/ He says that he has been listed as a deserter and faces either likely death in a penal stormtrooper unit or a long prison sentence, which is potentially worse than death. "Now I face either being sent to the front as a "penal soldier" or 5-10 years in prison." 11/ Egor Kholmogorov summarises how Bastrakov found himself in this situation, despite being a fervent supporter of and voluntary participant in the war: 12/ "In the fall of 2022, Shoigu and the Ministry of Defence, in order to report on mobilisation, retroactively and without notification mobilised all volunteers serving in the DPR. 13/ "These individuals turned out to be mobilised not only without consent, but even without notification. They lived their lives and served in their positions for some time without even knowing they were mobilised, thus turning them into criminals. 14/ "This scam with the lists was criminal not only against the victims, but also, above all, against the Russian Armed Forces, as it created false reports on mobilised personnel. And fake numbers have been and remain the main reason for the failures of the Russian Armed Forces to this day. 15/ "All that can be done is to amnesty all such supposed mobilised, who, like Bastrakov, were turned into criminals, and harshly punish all the authors of the fake schemes and lists. Let's hope the publicity surrounding Bastrakov's case leads to a resolution for all those affected." 16/ 'Direct Action Z' complains: "It has been written many times that the entire problem could have been solved by simply repealing one illegal order. Literally, with one minor bureaucratic move. But the state doesn't like to admit its mistakes, much less back down." 17/ "Therefore, thousands of volunteers are still at risk of criminal prosecution. Many die while formally designated as deserters, and their status is only removed posthumously..." 'Pontus Axinus' says that the "news and the entire situation leave me absolutely heartbroken." 18/ "It's incredibly painful to watch this pernicious bureaucratic schizophrenia... This isn't the first such situation in the Russian Armed Forces, and, terrifyingly, it's likely far from the last; I've heard plenty about it from my husband and his friends. 19/ "But in Dima Bastrakov's case, it seems completely absurd... Dima is one of the most caring people I know. He's always ready to get involved in other people's problems, to delve into them and listen... and, most importantly, to help. 20/ "I think that's precisely why he didn't remain indifferent in 2014, and then again in 2022, when he joined the DPR People's Militia. And why he founded the Black Hundred publishing house, whose main goal is to restore and preserve Russian cultural heritage. 21/ "But I still believe this is a flaw in the system that must (really must!) be corrected." 'Russian Tarantas' says that the people who've caused the problem aren't making any effort to solve it because that would mean admitting that they've made a mistake: 22/ "Everything about this transition was thought out competently, but at some point, "show-offs" from the lower ranks of the army, solving purely s̶e̶l̶f̶-̶s̶e̶r̶v̶i̶n̶g̶ technical problems, got involved. 23/ "Their methods contradicted the Minister of Defense's steadfast phrase: "You can make mistakes, but you can't lie." These are the people who need to be caught, dealt with, and to fix the mess they've made. But no one is planning to do that. Not yet, anyway." 24/ 'Direct Action Lawyer' says that the outlook for Bastrakov and others affected by 'Problem 500' is pretty hopeless: 25/ "Not many people have achieved justice regarding this issue – some have been imprisoned, others will likely be imprisoned for a long time, and some have died on meaningless, brutal missions, never having had their day in court or a preliminary investigation." 26/ Lev Vershenin suggests that Bastrakov is being targeted specifically, as his staunch nationalism has become inconvenient for the authorities — a suspicion that several other warbloggers hint at: "I can't say I'm surprised. Quite the contrary." 27/ "Because I have a feeling the Great Victory will soon be announced—and to avoid that, the noisy grass needs to be weeded. As on the left, so on the right. Because "sons of the monarchy" come in all shapes and sizes, and it's better to be safe than sorry..." 28/ 'RIA Katyusha' voices similar suspicions: "Another targeted blow against a hub of Russian patriots. Independent patriots, a relatively young generation, who are striving to preserve our culture and develop a Russian ideology based on the teachings of our ancestors." 29/ "A blow to a deeply Russian person who has done and continues to do a lot for our victory in the SVO. There are no words to adequately comment on this. We wish for a swift resolution of the AWOL problem, and for Dmitry, a full acquittal and an end to the persecution. 30/ "This is some kind of absurdity, and immediately unpleasant thoughts come to mind about a set-up." /end Sources: 🔹 t.me 🔹 t.me 🔹 t.me 🔹 t.me 🔹 t.me 🔹 t.me 🔹 t.me