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Politics
Eric Lohr, Professor of Russian History, American University

Russia has mobilized for war many times before – sometimes it unified the nation, other times it ended in disaster

A Russian citizen being called up for duty. Sefa Karacan/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

Vladimir Putin’s mobilization of 300,000 additional Russian soldiers to fight in Ukraine has gotten off to a rocky start.

Nominally aimed at calling up reserve forces with prior combat experience, early reports suggest a broader dragnet and widespread resistance against the call-up. Recruitment offices have been torched, protests against the action have dotted Russian cities, and droves of men have reportedly fled the country to avoid being enlisted.

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