In russia, conscripts are being sent to fight in the border areas of the Kursk oblast, according to several russian media outlets citing relatives of the young soldiers.
According to the soldiers' mothers, about 150 conscripts are currently stationed at a military unit near Kursk. They are being pressured to volunteer for assault units and are promised "combat pay" of 4,000 to 4,500 rubles (around $45) per day.
One woman recounted a call from her son: “They were told, ‘You will go anyway, but we will pay you the combat money now. You will join the assault units. If you don’t agree, you will face a court-martial and will still have to go [to fight]’”.
Reports also indicate preparations in other regions of russia for sending spring conscripts to the front.
"Currently, conscripts are being prepared in their unit for deployment to the Kursk oblast. Kursk battalions have been formed. There was no opportunity to speak with higher command; they refuse to communicate with the parents. Phone numbers are hidden, and parents are not given any information", - claim the recruits' relatives.
The parents of the conscripts are demanding that their sons not be sent to the Kursk oblast, as they have not yet completed the required four months of service to be eligible for deployment to a combat zone.
Additionally, mothers and wives have sent a petition to putin requesting the removal of the “boys” from the border areas of the Kursk oblast.