In less than a month of war, nearly 10,000 Russian soldiers would have lost their lives on Ukrainian territory, a much higher pace with Soviet military losses in Afghanistan after ten years of war. Desertions, too, are numerous.
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The voice is minced. Attached by phone in the Khanties-Mansis area, in the center of Russia, Olga – the first name has been changed for security reasons – is surprised that its history “interests the French” but does not shine. His son, Nikolai, 22, was killed on February 27, just three days after the triggering of the war, February 24, by Vladimir Putin. “I learned on March 10 and his body was delivered on March 15th.”
If the word “war”, forbidden by Russian legislation, escapes, Olga takes up. “Why did he participate in the G …, the special operation? I would probably never know. But if I knew there was a special operation, I would have done everything to Do not go. I do not even understand how it was sent there. It’s an absurdity, you understand? “
When the terrible new has reached him, this mother asked questions: how? Where ? “The Major answered me” What good on him? “” Since, Olga, who lives with his daughter in a locality of the Urals, on the banks of the OB, keeps back in his head the last months, the last weeks, the last day she was in contact with his son. “It was the 20 [February], he told me,” All is fine, I’m in Belarus for exercises, the 27, I’ll be back home. “” Then nothing. Nothing but questions, again and again. “After his military service, he signed a contract [with the army] but he did not tell me anything, not even his difficulties. I knew much later that he had nothing or almost to eat, nor where Sleeping. Any man must go through the army, but why did he signed? When I asked him, he replied: “Because it’s necessary.” He had just married. “
“I do not understand what’s going on,” Olga repeats, who has always been held out of politics. This murdered woman wonders today what has become the friend of her son, Yvan, who was with him, before concluding with this image: “If we knew that we would fall so low, we would have put Hay on the ground. “
Everywhere, the soldiers killed lists are lying down
The name and photo of Nikolai, shaved skull and juvenile face, member of 104 e of the 76 e airborne division, figure well, with others , “Killed in the Kharkiv area” – the second largest city in Ukraine located near the Russian border – on the internet portal of the region. We must peel the sites of Russian cities and the local press, as does the American PhD student Rob Lee, to realize the magnitude of the disaster. Every day, dozens advertisements are displayed, without noise.
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