The mother of a Russian soldier found out about his death from social networks: the commander of his son lied to her for a month that he was all right

On February 20, Valentina received a call from her son from the Russian army. His unit was "in training" near the border with Ukraine. Shortly after that, he stopped communicating. All this turned out to be a tragedy for Valya, and the authorities now and then keep silent about the information. Read more about this story told the publication with the BBC.

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“My son said that they practice shooting and live in tents,” says Valya. “That was the last time I spoke to him.”

Four days later, Russian troops invaded Ukraine.

The Russian offensive brought incalculable suffering to the Ukrainian people. Since Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the invasion, thousands of civilians have been killed in Ukraine.

But there are also consequences for the families of Russian servicemen sent to fight.

Valentina (not her real name), fearing repercussions from the authorities for her statements, requested that her identity be kept secret.

She shared her story and what she thinks about the Kremlin's "special operation".

“In early March, I got a call from a sergeant from my son’s base. He probably called all the parents, says the mother. “The sergeant told me that the guys are all right, that they are in touch with them every day. We kept in touch throughout March and he kept saying they were fine."

“Then a man claiming to be my son’s friend sent me a message. I didn't know him. He found me on social networks and said that my son’s leg was blown off and he’s dead. I called and tried to meet with officials, but no one said anything,” recalls Valya. “Eventually the sergeant I spoke to said, ‘The last time your son was in contact was February 23rd.’”

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Valya tried to find out more. “I wrote to my son’s department,” she explains. — I wrote to the military registration and enlistment office, to the Ministry of Defense. No one gave me basic information: where, when and how my son disappeared. They just told me that he took part in a “special operation” and went missing.”

How many Russian soldiers died in Ukraine? In Russia, it is considered a criminal offense to report anything other than official data.

But official data is hard to come by. The Russian Defense Ministry has not updated the official number of military dead since March 25.

Then their number was 1351. The following month, the Kremlin acknowledged "significant" troop losses in Ukraine.

In an attempt to justify the invasion, the Russian authorities and state media are trying to dehumanize Ukrainians in the eyes of the Russian public.

They call Ukrainian soldiers and officials "ultra-nationalists" and "Nazis". They claim that Ukraine is the aggressor and Russia is the liberator.

But Valya does not see Ukraine as an enemy.

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“If our country was attacked like that, we would also defend ourselves like they did. We would defend ourselves and be angry too,” she says.

Many Russians believe the government's information and support the "special military operation" as it is presented to them on state television. In Russia, the Kremlin controls television and therefore the messages on it.

But not completely. Valya keeps in touch with soldiers' mothers all over Russia. She argues that dissatisfaction with the authorities is growing among mothers.

“They hate the government. They hate Putin,” says Valya. They all want this war to end. All mothers want. We are the lower class. We are simple village people. All the guys who are fighting are from the outback of Russia. Not Muscovites. There are no sons of officials."

“If the mothers of all the soldiers who are now there, and the mothers who lost their sons, if they all rebelled, can you imagine how big this army would be? And they will rise. Their nerves will pass, ”the woman assures.

After talking with journalists, Valentina received an official notification that her son had been killed in Ukraine.

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