The advancing war in Ukraine is having serious consequences within Russia’s borders, but not all populations are being affected in the same way. According to a report from the UK Ministry of Defense, families of the country’s elite and certain groups and regions are being overprotected while ethnic minorities, prisoners, and the socially excluded are being forcibly recalled to the front lines. In wealthier cities, such as Moscow and St. Petersburg, deaths are relatively low in proportion to their population sizes. However, in many eastern regions, deaths are up to 30 times higher than in Moscow. Moreover, ethnic minorities are the most affected, as in the city of Astrakhan, where 75% of the victims are Kazakhs and Tatars.
The report also notes that the Kremlin’s selective process of war damage is in response to its continuing shortage of combat personnel. The Russian government is isolating the better-off and more influential elements of society to prevent them from being affected by the war. According to the report, this will continue to be an important consideration.
Recently, Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) detained an individual suspected of collaborating with Ukrainian intelligence services. The accused was trying to convince mobilized Russians to commit acts of high treason by handing over data on the location of barracks and persuading them to steal and deliver military equipment to the enemy.