Russians establish a cult of the military in Crimea

On December 9, the annexed Crimea celebrates the Russian holiday of the Day of Heroes of the Fatherland. Since the beginning of last week, various thematic events have been held, including honoring the participants of the so-called"svoya".

As activists of the international campaign #LiberateCrimea told Krym.Realii, the Russian authorities in Crimea are developing a cult of the military.

"In Crimea, there is a large-scale militarization of society, including mental militarization, at all levels - from kindergartens to pensioners," the activists commented on the situation.

According to them, the Russian authorities of the occupied Crimea are creating a cult of the military, forming a heroic image of them. In the 56th Guards Air Assault Regiment stationed in Crimea alone, 12 soldiers have been awarded the title of Russian hero. This kind of "heroism" is picked up by shrill professional "patriots" who mentally deceive Crimeans and earn personal benefits from numerous volunteer centers supporting members of the so-called "svoyas", of which there are already more than two hundred in Crimea!

"Children's and youth military-patriotic clubs are growing like mushrooms, joining the ranks of the Russian youth army. The number of BARS-Crimea fighters can be increased. All this is for one cynical purpose - to continue to fulfill the plan to recruit contract soldiers to the Russian Ministry of Defense ," #LiberateCrimea activists said.

According to the estimates of the Representative Office of the President of Ukraine in the ARC, since the annexation of the peninsula in 2014, 20 conscription campaigns have been held and about 50 thousand Crimeans have been mobilized. The Ombudsman's Office in the ARC emphasizes that the conscription of Crimean residents for military service in the Russian army is a violation of the norms and customs of international humanitarian law, in particular the provisions of the IV Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, and constitutes a war crime.‍

Also, the Ombudsman's Office in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea reported that at least 1,223 Russian army soldiers were buried in Crimea. 769 of them were probably Ukrainian citizens. The capture of at least 40 Russian servicemen from the occupied Crimea has been confirmed, most of whom are likely to be Ukrainian citizens.

Олеся Ланцман