Putin orders to demobilise drafted students of ‘LDPR’

Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered the demobilisation of students of the self-proclaimed Luhansk and Donetsk “people’s republics” (“LDPR”) who had previously been drafted, Russia’s state news agency RIA Novosti reports, citing the Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov.

“People’s militia forces are currently integrated into Russia’s Armed Forces, [the integration happened] after DPR and LPR joined Russia. Putin has given an order to conduct the demobilisation of students and organise their return to the places of study,” Peskov says.

Earlier in the week, Natalya Gladkikh told TV Rain that her son Nikita, a school student, had been drafted in the self-proclaimed Donetsk “people’s republic” on 25 February, a day after the Russian invasion of Ukraine had begun. The young man was sent to Kherson under the guise of military training, where he still is, the woman said.

Nikita received his school diploma while he was on the frontlines. “He did not get a chance to enrol in a college as he has not been granted a leave to go home once in all these months,” Natalya said.

General mobilisation was announced in “LDPR” on 19 February, back when the “republics” had not yet become “part” of Russia. In “LPR”, men between the ages of 18 and 55 were prohibited from leaving the region.