A group of courageous women knelt outside Russia’s Defense Ministry in a rare protest, demanding the return of their soldier husbands and sons from Ukraine. These women are relatives of men mobilized into the Russian army by President Putin and have been holding protests for months.
They are asking for limits on soldiers’ service time, replacement with contract soldiers, and most importantly, the safe return of their loved ones. Despite being labeled as a “foreign agent” by Russian authorities, these women continued their peaceful protest, kneeling outside the Ministry with banners, including a child wearing a shirt that said “Bring back dad.”
The women avoided inviting journalists due to fears of detention, but shared their message online. They emphasized the need to end the war in Ukraine or return the mobilized men. Putin’s 2022 mobilization order caused chaos, with many trying to escape conscription.
Recent efforts by the Russian military to recruit volunteers aim to ease public backlash. However, these women remain steadfast in their demand for their loved ones’ return, highlighting the human cost of war in Ukraine.
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