Vladimir Putin is facing a furious backlash from pro-Kremlin army bloggers after the Russian parliament passed a new law that “punishes” service in Ukraine.
Russian lawmakers approved a “law on disciplinary arrests” in a Duma consultation on Wednesday, after its third reading.
The new bill will allow Russian commanders to imprison infantrymen in “disciplinary pits” for various crimes, subject to authorization by a military court.
Throughout the army’s campaign, they complained bitterly about being confined in makeshift compounds, either in basements or literally in holes dug in the ground, for minor offenses.
The new law now lists 20 crimes punishable by detention in a “pit pen”, one of which includes possession of a mobile phone.
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The decision to ban Russian infantrymen from using mobile phones has angered Putin’s supporters of the war, who accuse the army of trying to cover up their disasters.
“This is clearly the desire of the Ministry of Defense. They have harmed the army in terms of communications without offering anything in return,” said former Ukrainian parliamentarian and now Russian collaborator Oleg Tsarev.
He added: “There is no doubt that the main explanation for this ban is that unpleasant truths are filtered through smartphones. “
Another pro-Kremlin blogger claimed that the law would prevent foot soldiers from reporting abuses committed through commanders.
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“The new rule will allow the law to arrest any complainant or petitioner,” Zhivov said on his Telegram channel.
“It doesn’t matter if he’s right or wrong. Complaining, a “gizmo”, welcome to the “well” or attack units.
“And then if you survive, replace your brain and you’ll never complain again. “
War correspondent Semyon Pegov, nicknamed Wargonzo, said infantrymen could navigate with mobile phones because they didn’t have any other reliable equipment.
The head of the pro-war Telegram channel “Two Majors” said the move would make things much more complicated for troops on the front lines.
He said: “This is how Duma deputies have fought against common sense and adopted spending provisions that will either be implemented or completely paralyze work on the front.
In a video posted online last year, the Russians claimed they had been locked in a “pit” for refusing to come to the front.
One of them said: “We are locked in this pit for refusing to come forward.
“There is no commander to take us to the front. There is no equipment, evacuation or radios. They just throw us into the woods like dogs. “
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