Since the war between Russia and Ukraine began in February 2022, the scientist and antibahic activist Maria vyushkova has documented the disproportionate impact of the war on the ethnic minorities of Russia.
Doctor in Chemistry and of Buriative Origin, has been a pioneer in supporting with specific data the complaints about the High mortality between indigenous publos and other communities are not In the Russian army. Now, in one, it analyzes the trends of Russian low, the lack of protection of the natives and the dangers facing the cultural survival of these communities.
Change in trends
Vyushkova says that 2024 “It was the bloodiest year of this war”. “The rate increased deaths has grown drastically,” he says. While in the early years of the conflict the losses were concentrated in regions such as Buriatia, the current situation is very different: “Buriatia is no longer among the leading regions by number of victims.”
In this sense, he points out that “the highest figures come from Bashkortostán, Tartaristan and the regions of Sverdlovsk and Cheliábinsk“. The scientist is especially shown by what happens in the first two places, where she affirms that the situation is” catastrophic. “
“The number of victims from there continues to increase without glimpsed an end“, he says.” Both republics have a considerable population compared to Buriatia, but Its per capita losses are already significantly above the national average. They have even surpassed the republics of Sakha (Yakutia) and Kalmukia, “he adds.
This casual increase intensified after partial mobilization announced in 2022, And he worsened with the offensive in Avdiivkain October 2023. “At that time, I noticed a Strong increase in casuals in Bashkortostan And I predicted that this republic would take the lead in losses, and that prediction came true, “he says.
Another striking trend is the growing amount of Low registered in the Moscow regionwhich, according to the expert, “now occupies the fourth place in losses, something we had not seen before.” “Although there are many military units in the region, they have not been very involved in active combat. It seems that [las autoridades] Deliberately tried to avoid losses [entre los soldados] from Moscow and the surrounding regions, But now they are also being sent to the crusher“, develops.
Indigenous communities could disappear
Para vyushkova, The impact of war on indigenous peoples is especially devastating. “It’s very difficult to see all this. I feel that I got to know at least 500 dead men in person while manually processed all the information. “
These groups are not only overrepresented in the front, but also lack resources to defend against forced mobilization. “Is scary. Especially when it comes to small indigenous communities that are 100% victims of this situation because they depend largely on the government and, often, They have no access to qualified legal assistance“He reports.
“None of them have ever tried to challenge the reception of the military citation of mobilization in the courtsalthough there are reasons for this, simply because They cannot have access to a competent lawyer That it is also brave enough to assume such a case, “he explains.
Besides, The dependence of these communities of the State is absolutewhich aggravates his situation: “His traditional way of life has been essentially criminalized. Russian laws on environmental protection not only do not protect nature, but are also designed to turn these people into criminals“.
In this way, he fears for the real risk that exists that these ethnic minorities end up extinguishing: “It is terrifying to witness the death of men of these communities because you realize that In one or two generations, whole cultures could easily disappear, and nobody knows or cares about that“.
