Russians not in a position to endure this catastrophe
The Kremlin’s policy of sending hundreds of thousands of Russians, many of them prisoners, to war with little or no training or equipment has had disastrous effects.
Upon their return, many soldiers have committed violent crimes. The country is reportedly suffering from a severe shortage of psychologists trained to treat post-traumatic stress disorder.
Russian officials have been reluctant to criticize veterans, with Putin calling them the country’s “new elite.” But according to an investigation published by Meduza, the president’s team is well aware of the risks posed by returnees and fears that Russian society is not ready to accept them.
The Kremlin believes that the return of Russian soldiers from Ukraine will be the country’s “biggest political and social risk factor” during Mr. Putin’s current term, said Sergey Kiriyenko, a senior member of the Kremlin’s domestic policy group.
(MH with AmBar/Source: Meduza/Photo: Valery Tenevoy/Unsplash)