Wives of Russian soldiers protest against 'endless war' in Ukraine | DW News

Summary

A group of Russian women are staging weekly protests to demand the return of their husbands and sons fighting in Ukraine. They initially supported the war but now want their relatives home, with some explicitly calling to end the conflict. The women refuse to give up, protesting every Saturday in cities across Russia. While the Kremlin currently lets them demonstrate without interference to provide an outlet for anger, a harsher crackdown could come if the movement grows substantially. Still, mass anti-war protests are unlikely due to Russia's size, lack of infrastructure, intimidation of dissent, and economic stability shielding citizens from the war's impacts.

Takeaways

• 😡 A group of Russian women are protesting to demand the return of their husbands and sons from the war in Ukraine.
• 👩‍👦‍👦 The women are united in wanting their relatives to come home from fighting in Ukraine.
• 🤔 The protesters have differing views on the war itself, with some supporting it and others more skeptical.
• 🚫 The women are sharpening their tone and now demanding an end to the war, not just the return of their men.
• 😟 The protests show growing anger and dissatisfaction in parts of Russian society over the war.
• 📢 The women want their protest to pressure Putin ahead of the March presidential election.
• 😕 The Kremlin is so far letting the women protest without crackdowns, seeing it as not a real threat.
• 🤫 Protesting is risky in Russia, so the movement is still small with only hundreds participating.
• ⏱ The women vow to keep protesting every Saturday until their demands are met.
• 😯 If mobilization resumes, more widespread anti-war protests could occur in Russia.

Q & A

What are the Russian women protesting for?

The Russian women are protesting to demand the return of their husbands and sons who were mobilized to fight in Ukraine. They want them to come home.

What are the women's views on the war?

The women have differing views - some claim to support the war, others are more skeptical. But they are united in wanting their relatives to return from Ukraine.

Where are the women protesting?

The women are protesting in public spaces like the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and President Putin's campaign office near the Kremlin in Moscow.

How long have the protests been going on?

The women's initiative demanding their relatives' return has been around for months, but recently they have sharpened their rhetoric to explicitly demand an end to the war.

Why don't the authorities crack down on the protests?

The Kremlin likely doesn't see the small protests as a real threat yet. Also, violently crushing the protests could be counterproductive.

Could the protests grow into an anti-war movement?

So far the protests seem unlikely to become a mass anti-war movement, as Russia lacks the infrastructure and leadership required. But some observers warn the protests could still grow.

Why don't most Russians actively oppose the war?

After 20+ years of Putin, few Russians have an interest in politics. Also the war has little impact on most people's everyday lives currently.

What could turn public opinion against the war?

Economic troubles or a new mobilization wave might worry people. But currently Russia is doing fairly well economically despite sanctions.

What do the women want from Putin?

The protesting women want Putin to see and hear their protests. They are demanding he announce demobilization to end the war and bring their relatives home.

How are the women planning to continue protesting?

The women plan to continue protesting every Saturday in public spaces in Moscow, St. Petersburg and elsewhere to pressure Putin ahead of March's election.