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Random Comments on Ukraine + Giving Thanks: These are not "Poor Mobiks"; Thank You for Tango [1]

['This Content Is Not Subject To Review Daily Kos Staff Prior To Publication.']

Date: 2023-12-05

1. No Pity for Willful Murderers

You may consider this a pairing post to a recent Ukraine Update by Mark Sumner.

I have seen people here on Daily Kos expressing sadness about seeing Russian soldiers dying in Ukraine.

Also, many believe that the Russians fighting in Ukraine are “poor mobiks”, i.e., forcefully mobilized Russians who actually did not want to fight. This is wrong.

A large part of the Russian soldiers in Ukraine, if not the majority of them, are contract workers, i.e., volunteers. For them, this is just work. “Want some money for killing Ukrainians? – Sign me in!”

Even if we speak of the mobilized soldiers – most of them could avoid mobilization quite easily. Instead, they agreed to go to the army to kill Ukrainians.

While sadness and empathy are important traits that make us humans, most Russian soldiers in Ukraine do not deserve that.

These are some facts for anyone having any pity for the dying Russian soldiers:

1) Still the majority of Russians fighting in Ukraine are volunteers, including criminals. That “Kamchatka” battalion (mentioned in one of the videos published on a Daily Kos war update) is a voluntary formation.

There was reported some pressure on different people to “volunteer”, but in most cases, the worst thing that could happen for not yielding to the pressure would be possibly losing your current job. Yes, moral pressure from people of authority and the threats of worsening financial situation are hard to bear. But if the alternative is to go and sign up to kill Ukrainians and destroy their homes and lives – for any sane and humane person, the choice should be obvious.

2) In Russia, if you are over 27 years old, you still have zero criminal liability for refusing to appear on mobilization notice at the conscription office.

There is some monetary fine, though. And that is it. So you can pay, say, 100 bucks for not going to Ukraine to kill Ukrainians.

All who came to Ukraine just voluntarily accepted the notice to mobilize (for example, see the video from which the screenshot above was taken). They could refuse, or avoid mobilization, without much risk to their lives or freedoms - but they accepted.

Every Russian over 27 years old who died in Ukraine has come here on his own will.

3) Yes, once you are enlisted, things change. But still, even if you are a Russian serviceman stationed in Russia, refusing to go to Ukraine means up to three years of a light-regime prison. Yes, you lose your social status and a good job; your family will have a hard time; prison is a bad place to spend three years of your life there. But you will be alive and not killing other people in a brutal and unjust war.

4) Finally, just recently the Russian Supreme Court confirmed that all mobilized Russians have a right to an alternative civil service. Yes, you heard that right – alternative civil service. No need to shoot anybody. Go and care for the wounded in a hospital, or do other useful, humane stuff.

So, aside from various accidents, local abuse of powers by the authorities, and other statistical anomalies, most of the current Russian soldiers in Ukraine had a real way not to go to war.

The worst that could happen to them was three years of prison - and in most cases, if you behave wisely, that could be down to a fine or a smaller term. They could do it while staying in Russia. And, of course, the option of fleeing Russia is still there.

Those hundreds of thousands of Russians, however, decided to go to Ukraine to kill Ukrainians.

You shall also note, that, for millions of people in Russia, death or injury is just fine — people themself do not put much value on their lives. Life is not sacred, it is not something special that has to be cared for. Especially if they and/or their families get an opportunity to earn 2-5 times more than their usual income during the several months of service before their death or injury. With that money, enlisting in the military is a good career move, in fact — it allows you to live your best life when (and if) you return home. With the cult of death and violence widespread in Russian society, you might even become a hero for your neighborhood.

This is how everyday nazism is done. Maybe, these soldiers did not actively support the idea of killing Ukrainians. But they are not opposed to it either. That is just a part of life. Someone bakes bread, someone writes code, and someone goes on a long business trip to kill some “khokhols” or “nazis” in a faraway land.

This is also an answer to the question of whether Ukraine can do something better to persuade Russian soldiers in Ukraine to surrender. No — because they are fine with what they are doing. Most of those who did not want to go to Ukraine just did not go.

The only reason for them to question their actions would appear only if the Russian government stopped paying them.

Or if they are encircled by Ukrainians and the only alternative to surrendering is a sure death.

Russian former president, Dmitry Medvedev, said recently that over 452,000 men have signed contracts with the the Russian army in 2023. “Contracts” means that all of them were volunteers. Yes, there may be fewer of them in reality, but the figure would still be in the thousands of hundreds of people.

Now, take a pause and think.

Almost half a million Russians decided this year to leave their lives and homes behind and travel to Ukraine to kill Ukrainians.

From somewhere afar, you may have some pity for them.

For us, they only may hope for some pity after they cross the international border back to Russia or lay down their weapons and surrender.

Until then, for every civilian Ukrainian, they are a deadly threat.

And for every Ukrainian soldier, they are just targets.

2. Thank You for Tango

As I wrote in my text about the ways to help Ukrainians, you can find your recipients by reaching out to Ukrainian parts of your professional, hobby or religious community.

I am naturally more connected to Europe, and, therefore, I know about the efforts in Europe more than in the US – but I am grateful for everything that is being done by ordinary Americans for Ukraine, including the advocacy efforts and donations done by Daily Kos readers.

So, these are the Dutch tango lovers gathering for a dancing gig that also served as a fundraiser for the two projects by Ukrainian tango lovers:

Ukraine Benefit Milonga in Amsterdam, 5th November 2023

More photos here: Post of Appreciation (Facebook post) and here: Ukraine Benefit Milonga / 5th November 2023 (Facebook)

Aside from the financial part, a social dance, even if only seen in a photo, gives you the warmth of a human embrace, attention, and acceptance. This is something Ukraine and Ukrainians in Ukraine need so much now.

Thank you, from our hearts to your hearts.

* * *

For everyone wishing to help Ukraine, please see my kind of guide 30+ Ways to Help Ukraine Today for general tips and contacts of the specific organizations.

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