The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) on Sunday said the Russian government is likely attempting to censor disgruntled relatives of Russian soldiers serving in Ukraine.
One of the ways in which the Kremlin is allegedly trying to silence these voices is by the use of online bots to create fake online profiles that accuse the relatives of having ties to the jailed Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny and his Anti-Corruption Foundation (ACF).
Russia has been experiencing an increasing amount of calls from family members of Russian troops for their loved ones to be given time off or be returned home. Along with staging public protests, these relatives have also taken their message to social media, notably on a Telegram channel known as "Way Home."
On November 27, "Way Home" published a statement from soldiers' relatives that condemned how their "loved ones were taken to Ukraine" despite Putin's promises that reservists would not be called up.
"Many will never return. Mobilization turned out to be a terrible mistake," the statement added.
Newsweek reached out to the Kremlin via email on Monday for comment.
In its Sunday assessment of the war, the ISW cited a BBC Russia report on the alleged use of bots by Russian agents to attack soldiers' relatives. In a Sunday story, the BBC wrote of bots using made-up names and profile photographs for accounts that claim relatives who use the "Way Home" channel are linked to Navalny.
The United Kingdom's Ministry of Defense (MOD) on Saturday also detailed Kremlin efforts to stifle criticism of the war being posted on Telegram. The MOD said that the "Way Home" group had been given a fake warning label, "likely at the instigation of pro-Kremlin actors."
Another alleged avenue Russian officials have taken in an attempt to appease protesting family members of soldiers is in the form of pay-offs.
"Research by independent Russia media outlets and comments by protesting wives themselves suggest that, in recent weeks, the authorities have likely offered increased cash payments to families in return for them refraining from protest," the U.K. defense officials wrote.
According to the ISW, the Kremlin's biggest concern about the angry relatives might be that their protests could negatively impact Russian President Vladimir Putin's assumed 2024 presidential campaign.
"Putin's presidential campaign will reportedly not focus on the war in Ukraine, and the Kremlin likely considers the relatives of mobilized personnel to be a social group that may pose one of the greatest threats to his campaign," the ISW wrote.
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Jon Jackson is an Associate Editor at Newsweek based in New York. His focus is on reporting on the Ukraine ... Read more
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