Experts from the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) analyzed the selection of families of fallen Russian soldiers attending a Christmas meeting with Russian dictator Vladimir Putin, noting that such selections are standard Kremlin practice.
Source: ISW
Details: Russian President Putin continued to demonstrate “trusteeship” of Russian military personnel and their families ahead of the March 2024 presidential elections during a meeting with family members of fallen Russian military personnel on January 6.
Putin met with family members of Russian servicemen killed in Ukraine at his residence in Novo-Ogarevo to celebrate Orthodox Christmas.
He emphasized the “heroism of the fallen Russian servicemen” who “defended the interests (of Russia – ed.).”
Analysts note that the Russian dictator has repeatedly reaffirmed the Russian government’s support for the families of Russian military personnel and delegated responsibility for ongoing support for these families to Russian officials at all levels throughout Russia.
Putin recently attended similar events, during which he portrayed himself as a “compassionate leader” concerned with the well-being of Russian military personnel and demonstrated his ability to accommodate military personnel’s requests and solve their problems.
Experts point out that it is likely that Putin uses these periodic, highly publicized meetings as part of his election campaign, since Russian military personnel and their families constitute a significant electorate, and their public support for Putin is vital for the Kremlin, as it gives him the opportunity to represent Russian society. which largely supports the war in Ukraine.
In addition, the review notes, the Kremlin appears to be carefully selecting families who attend the meeting with Putin to minimize the risk that they might say or ask inconvenient things.
Experts also remind that the Kremlin has demonstrated “sensitivity” to recent public complaints from family members of Russian military personnel and continues its efforts to censor these complaints in the public space.
The Russian news agency News Agency said on January 7 that the meeting was attended by relatives of five fallen Russian servicemen, and that many of these relatives have ties to the Russian government and military.
The Novosti agency reported that among those present was the widow of a former serviceman of the Russian Guard, who is now the chairman of the “Committee of Families of Soldiers of the Fatherland” in Balashikha and an adviser to the head of Balashikha; the widow of a Russian serviceman who now works as the head of the Tambov branch of the Kremlin-created Fatherland Defenders Fund; members of the family of the former rector of the temple at the headquarters of the Strategic Missile Forces of the Russian Federation, who previously participated in the conflicts in Chechnya and Syria and was known as the “airborne priest.”
The Novosti agency reported that all five fallen servicemen whose families attended the meeting posthumously received Hero of Russia and the Order of Courage awards, and two of the children present also attended the event with Putin on November 4 in Moscow.
The Kremlin’s practice of carefully selecting those who attend public events with Putin, with the same individuals sometimes appearing at multiple events, appears to be standard, analysts say.
ISW Key Findings for January 7:
- Putin, during a meeting with family members of fallen Russian servicemen on January 6, continued his demonstration of “guardianship” over Russian servicemen and their families ahead of the presidential elections in March 2024.
- The head of the Kremlin-controlled Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Kirill of Moscow, said Russia cannot refuse Russian citizens who “realize they made a mistake” by leaving Russia after the full-scale invasion of Ukraine and now want to return home.
- Two Russian officials have defended the continued presence of migrants in Russia despite the ongoing crackdown on those migrants, drawing sharp criticism from military bloggers and indicating that the Russian government may still not have a unified policy towards migrants in Russia .
- On the night of January 6–7, Russian troops launched a series of missile and drone strikes in Ukraine.
- Speaker of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Colonel Yuriy Ignat, denied media reports that the Danish Ministry of Defense is postponing the first delivery of six F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine for up to six months.
- Russian troops have made confirmed advances west and southwest of Donetsk amid ongoing trench fighting along the entire front.
- Ukrainian military observer Konstantin Mashovets said on January 7 that Russia has postponed the creation of new Moscow and Leningrad military districts for at least the second time due to a lack of weapons, personnel and bureaucratic problems.
- Putin signed a decree on January 4 that will allow Russia to forcibly grant citizenship to deported Ukrainian children.
2024-01-08 01:42:04
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