Two days after Putin's announcement, Mashina's father got a call. A friend of his in the police station gave him a call and he said there's a draft noticed for your son tomorrow. I had this feeling of helplessness. I didn't know what to do. And I've been at work for the past couple of days. There were a few people in my company that met the criteria for the draft. We put a few plans together which we're now trying to carry out. But if I get a visa, there's still a danger because they're looking for people in the airports and they could be looking at my passport in the airport. It means to keep up in
Kirill, 24, works at a nonprofit for homeless people in the Moscow region. He does not support the policies of President Vladimir V. Putin and is vehemently against the invasion of Ukraine.
After suffering setbacks in the war, Mr. Putin announced a military draft a week ago. Kirill was among those called up. As he hides out to avoid being served his papers, Kirill spoke to Sabrina Tavernise about how his life has changed.
Guest: Kirill, a 24-year-old from Moscow who is attempting to avoid the draft and who asked that only his first name be used to avoid reprisals.
Background reading:
- In a rare admission of official mistakes, the Kremlin has acknowledged that the military draft has been rife with problems.
- Resistance to the draft has grown as villagers, activists and even some elected officials ask why the conscription drive appears to be hitting minority groups and rural areas harder than the big cities.
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