Dozens detained at rally involving wives of Russian soldiers

Dozens of people were detained by police in central Moscow at a rally protesting against Russia’s mobilisation of men to fight in Ukraine, a human rights group has said.

At least 27 people, of most of who were journalists, were targeted at a gathering at the Kremlin wall to lay flowers at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier monument, OVD-Info – which focuses on combating repressions in Russia – said.

It comes as a movement continues to grow involving Russian women who are demanding the return of their husbands, sons and brothers from the front line after they were mobilised by President Vladimir Putin.

Representatives of The Way Home – a Telegram channel run by Russian relatives – called for members to bring carnations and gather on 3 February, which marks 500 days since mobilisation was declared.

“Firstly, we invite the wives, mothers, sisters, and children of mobilised [Russian soldiers] from all Russian regions to Moscow. It’s important to demonstrate our unity,” organisers wrote.

“Secondly, we invite everyone, all concerned citizens, to wear white headscarves or scarves and bring carnations to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.”

The act of the group laying carnations at the monument occurs every Saturday, but members are not usually detained.

Moscow‘s prosecutor’s office on Saturday claimed the rally had not been coordinated with authorities and issued a warning about calling for and participating in unauthorised mass events.

Some detained individuals were later let go, the group said.

Elsewhere in Russia, a fire was extinguished at Volgograd oil refinery following a drone attack, local authorities said.

Andrey Bocharov, governor of Volgograd in southern Russia said fire and rescue services got to work “quickly” and the fire was put out. He said there were no casualties.

Oil producer Lukoil, which owns the refinery, later said it is working as normal.

Russia and Ukraine have targeted each other’s energy infrastructure in strikes designed to disrupt supply lines and demoralise their opponent in a nearly two-year-old conflict.

As the war shows little sign of easing up, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Saturday that he welcomed the news the German parliament has approved its budget, which includes €7.6bn (£6.5bn) in military assistance for Kyiv.

“My special thanks to @bundesrat and 16 lands for the important political resolution in support of Ukraine as Russia’s full-scale invasion approaches the two-year mark,” he wrote on X.

“We appreciate our German friends’ consistent support at all levels.”

It comes after the EU agreed €50bn (£42bn) in aid.

In late November, Moscow adopted its biggest-ever federal budget, with defence spending overtaking social spending for the first time in modern Russian history.

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