Putin to arrest Russians who refuse to fight in Ukraine for 10 years

Russian soldiers who refuse to fight in Ukraine face 10 years in prison

Putin announced Wednesday that Russia will undergo a partial mobilization in which reserves will be called in to fight in Ukraine as troop and equipment losses continue to mount.

Despite some resentment over the partial mobilization, refusing to fight in the war is now punishable by up to 10 years in prison, according to The Moscow Times, an English-language Russian newspaper.

Putin's army faced several problems, including difficulties in recruiting motivated soldiers, which allowed Ukraine in recent weeks to launch counteroffensives to retake the occupied territories.

The announcement is seen as an escalation of the conflict, but was met with protests in more than 38 Cities in Russia, a rare sign of growing frustration with the war among the country's citizens. The mobilization could result in an order for 300,000 reservists.

The law punishes the abandonment of military posts during the mobilization with up to 10 years in prison, according to the newspaper. Conscientious objectors shall be punished by a penalty of three years.

Flights departing Moscow and St. Petersburg today. The @AP is reporting international flights departing Russia have either sold out or skyrocketed in price after Putin announced a mobilization of reservists.

Search SVO, VKO, DME for Moscow airports and LED for St. Petersburg. pic.twitter.com/LV2PrkwPD9

— Flightradar24 (@flightradar24) September 21, 2022

Meanwhile, any soldier who voluntarily surrenders faces a 15-year prison sentence, according to the Times. Exceptions may be made for first-time offenders who "gave the release measures, returned to their unit or place of service, and committed no other crimes during their captivity."

The bill was approved by the Duma, Russia's parliament, last week before Putin's mobilization was announced and received support from all major parties, according to the Times.

Despite a new Russian law that can send reservists who refuse to fight to prison, the Russian leader's mobilization announcement has met resistance.