More and more Russian soldiers fighting in Ukraine are complaining of not receiving their salaries on time, in full, or at all, leaving their wives at home to struggle with getting by and, in many cases, raising kids.
A Russian woman on medical leave from Russia's war in Ukraine tells RFE/RL that she and her female colleagues have faced systemic harassment and persecution from officers bent on forcing them to serve as so-called field wives.
According to independent news outlet Agentstvo, citing Valentina Melnikova, executive secretary of the Soldiers' Mothers Committee, Russian servicemen with serious injuries are being sent back to combat zones without the permission of the military-medical commission.