Vladimir Putin is expected to intensify his crackdown on women protesting his ongoing invasion of Ukraine. His regime has been targeting movements perceived as supporting Western values such as freedom of speech, LGBTQ+ rights, and pacifism. Women, particularly mothers, sisters, and wives of Russian soldiers, have become prominent critics, demanding the return of their loved ones from the front lines.
Surveys indicate that women have a more negative view of Putin's "military operation" and have been at the forefront of protests since the war began in 2022. Grassroots movements, including the Feminist Anti-War Resistance Initiative (FAS), have emerged, focusing on the war's impact on social issues and women's rights violations. Another group, The Way Home, founded by the wives and mothers of Russian soldiers following Putin's mass mobilization in September 2023, has grown into a significant concern for the Kremlin.
The Center for European Policy Analysis (CEPA) reports that this group has become increasingly politicized and critical of Putin, although public support for such organizations remains minimal. There is, however, growing concern among Putin loyalists about efforts to undermine the war effort, leading to a widespread crackdown.
CEPA highlights that Putin and his associates have embraced a culture of ultra-masculinity, characterized by strict hierarchy, control, and legitimization through force. In this model, women are objectified and expected to produce future soldiers. The Kremlin frames any challenge to these values, such as promoting gender rights and opposing violence, as hostile to Russian civilization.
CEPA notes that a mass crackdown on politically active women before the presidential election in March could have backfired on Putin’s ratings, but the Kremlin is now free to address the issue more aggressively.
In addition to domestic pressures, Putin faces the imminent arrival of new aid to Ukraine from the United States. Russia has used the delay to make significant advances in eastern Ukraine and launch an offensive towards Kharkiv. However, these efforts have been undermined by corruption charges leading to the removal of several high-ranking military officers.
Former Deputy Defense Minister Timur Ivanov, who managed large military construction projects including the rebuilding of Mariupol, is suspected of taking a large bribe, an offense punishable by up to 15 years in prison. Other recent arrests on bribery charges include Lt. Gen. Yury Kuznetsov, head of the Defense Ministry’s personnel directorate; Maj. Gen. Ivan Popov, a former top commander in Ukraine; and Lt. Gen. Vadim Shamarin, deputy chief of the military general staff and deputy to Valery Gerasimov, chief of the general staff.
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