Desperate families of Russian conscripts have taken to social media to complain about the poor conditions facing their loved ones. They say that the soldiers have not received proper training, lack basic military gear, and have to find their own food and water. The family members are demanding that Moscow withdraw recently mobilized troops from the front line. | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty

A young Russian conscript, who fought in the Kursk region, shares a bitter yet bright truth: everything is known in comparison. He recalls how, sitting in a basement, he accidentally spilled his only “cup” of tea — a cut plastic bottle. In that moment, he realized how “good” life had been when he still had it. His words echo a timeless reminder: 💭 No matter how hard it feels — it won’t always be this way. Appreciate the small things. | Russia Unofficial

This is Sergey, a 19-year-old Russian conscript. He refuses to fight in Ukraine, and warns that any contract 'signed' by him would be coerced. Sergey is far from alone. In Moscow—a city Putin has long sought to shield from the impact of the war—the military is rounding up so-called draft dodgers at Metro stations, using facial recognition technology. They refuse to serve because they know they could be coerced into signing a contract—potentially facing torture if they refuse—which is a tactic to