In recent years, Russian women have become increasingly vocal in demanding the return of their loved ones from Ukraine, where thousands of Russian soldiers have been mobilized to fight in the ongoing conflict. This grassroots movement, known as “The Way Home,” has gained significant traction, with over 37,000 followers on its Telegram channel.
In September 2022, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered a partial mobilization, drafting over 300,000 reservists to fight in Ukraine.
Women, including wives, mothers, and girlfriends of mobilized soldiers, have taken to the streets, holding protests and rallies to demand their men’s safe return. In November 2023, about 30 women gathered on Moscow’s central Theatre Square, urging authorities to “let the mobilized go home.” Police quickly dispersed the group, but supporters of “The Way Home” continued to draw attention to the issue, laying flowers at the Eternal Flame monument outside the Kremlin walls on the patriotic Day of Heroes of the Fatherland holiday.
Just a few days ahead of Putin’s annual end-of-year Direct Line call-in show, which is scheduled to take place on Thursday, which Putin answers questions from a carefully vetted audience of journalists and members of the public, two women have recorded a video message asking questions about their loved ones will return and demand an “immediate solution and justice.”
Anastasia Slavik, whose husband was conscripted in 2022, in a video message said and I quote: “”We’re not asking for a second round of mobilisation. We’re asking for justice for our conscripted men. They deserve to be at home with their families.”
Yelena Trofimova, whose only son was conscripted into the army in September 2022, also bemoaned the length of time he had spent at the frontline in her video message to Putin. “People who fought in Afghanistan spent two years there. When there was conflict in Chechnya, it was one year. Even the first prisoners who went to the special military operation returned home six months later. When will there be demobilisation for civilians?” she quizzed.
Maria Andreyeva, a famous activist, a conscript’s wife, and one of the key members of the Way Home movement, has been deemed a “foreign agent” by the Russian government and has been forced to quit her job in August.
The Kremlin has denied suggestions of a second wave of mobilization. Putin, who said 617,000 Russian troops were deployed in Ukraine, acknowledged at his marathon news conference last week that public concern over a new draft was a “burning issue,” while insisting there’s no need for one now.
While surveys by the Moscow-based Levada Center show that about three-quarters of Russians support the invasion, some 60 percent also worry the war may lead to a general mobilization. A majority say they favor peace negotiations to end the conflict.
As the world watches, it’s becoming clear that the true heroes of this story are not the Russian soldiers fighting a war but the women who dare to challenge the status quo, who refuse to be silenced, and who demand justice for their loved ones.
