Mobilization in the North Caucasus

Russia’s ‘partial' mobilization has instantly changed the atmosphere in the country, sparking nationwide anti-conscription protests. Unlike previous nationwide protest movements, the North Caucasus has been at the forefront of criticising the Putin regime. This is no coincidence; the region has already been one of the hardest hit by casualties in Ukraine. On top of that, protestors here may have been emboldened by the refusal of some Rosgvardia troops from Kabardino-Balkaria and North Ossetia to deploy to Ukraine. Put succinctly, the region has felt the harsh cost of Vladimir Putin’s invasion. That said, the current protest wave against mobilization is more than just not wanting to fight Putin’s war, it is resisting a perceived existential threat. Many in the region are aware that their men are being served up as cannon fodder, that they will not return. Read Full Article »