In Buryatia, middle school students were urged to go fight against Ukraine
In Ulan-Ude, the capital of Buryatia, students in grades 5–8 were urged to go to war against Ukraine during a sporting event. The incident occurred on September 13 during the annual All-Russian “Cross of the Nation” race.
This year, a mobilization center was set up at the “Cross of the Nation” venue in Ulan-Ude.
After the race for 5th–8th graders ended, a man in military uniform took the stage.
According to Sayana Fedotova, the soldier began praising the students and urging them to join the war against Ukraine.
“We need you; we’re at war—come join us; we can’t manage without you,” he said, according to Fedotova.
She was outraged that calls to participate in the war were directed specifically at children.
“They’re saying this to schoolchildren at the ‘Cross of the Nation.’ They’re saying that they have to go fight. Schoolchildren. Children,” Fedotova emphasized.
Sayana Fedotova said she left the event “literally in tears” because she is raising children herself.
“I love my country. Above all, it is rich in people. I believe that all people have the right to life. I’ve always taught my children this. Why can’t people live in peace?” she said.
According to her, using children’s sporting events to spread military propaganda is unacceptable.
Meanwhile, Sayana Fedotova’s father, Vyacheslav Markhaev, had previously publicly called on the Russian authorities to end hostilities in Ukraine.
In late August, Bair Tsirenov, a representative of the Buryat branch of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation (CPRF), aired campaign ads on television asking, “When will the special military operation end?”
Thus, amid the Russian authorities’ attempts to engage young people in military themes, voices are also being heard in Buryatia from CPRF representatives who are publicly raising questions about ending the war.
Sayan Fedotova, the daughter of Vyacheslav Markhaev, head of the Buryat branch of the CPRF, reported this on social media. The “People of Lake Baikal” project also drew attention to the situation.
Earlier, Dmitry Medvedev, deputy chairman of the Russian Security Council, stated that Russia allegedly has no plans to carry out a mobilization this fall. At the same time, he called reports of a possible draft a “false provocation by Kyiv.”
As a reminder, Russia has begun the practice of mass issuance of “mobilization orders” at military registration and enlistment offices, which will allow the authorities to urgently summon hundreds of thousands of men to assembly points if necessary. The inclusion of the corresponding “order” in a military ID card obligates a citizen to report to a mobilization center if mobilization is declared.
As a reminder, Russia is compiling lists of employees exempt from mobilization.
Alona Shevtsova, CEO of Sends, will moderate a panel discussion at the executive level at the 17th Middle East Banking Innovation Summit (MEBIS 2026), which will take place on September 16–17 at the Jumeirah Emirates Towers in Dubai.
