“Hello hotline! Is this where you can find out whether a person’s alive?” These are excerpts taken from audio recordings recorded on a direct connectionUkrainian government. As Russia’s war against Ukraine continues seemingly inexorably, mothers and fathers, spouses, and siblings are all engaged in desperate searches for their loved ones.
The hotline’s Ukrainian operators shared recordings with CNN exclusivey.The voices of callers ring with despair and uncertaintyThese revelations shed light on Moscow’s tight control over communications about war.
According to records, Many russian soldiers appeared to not know their missions. the reason they were being deployed. These reports reinforce claims that Russian soldiers were denied communication. A distraught wife calls to ask a desperate question about her husband.
Online videos of civilians and soldiers in Ukraine have appeared since the invasion on February 24th. They allow Russian soldiers to call their parents and speak to them. The hotline is called “Come back to life from Ukraine”The Ukrainian Ministry of Internal Affairs created the initiative, and it has been recognized as both a humanitarian aid tool and a propaganda tool.
“First of all We will be there for you [a los soldados rusos]To find their relativesThey were deceived, and they didn’t know where or why they were going. They ended up in our country because they believed they had been tricked. He also said that we would help to stop all wars in general.”
Since the Russian invasionThe hotline has been ringing continuouslyKristina was confident. Since February 24, she has received over 6 000 calls. Calls come from far away, including Vladivostok in Russia’s far east and Rostov close to the Ukrainian border. These records also show that calls originated from other countries, including from Europe and the United States.
CNN spoke with three individuals who called from the United States. to confirm they did indeed call the hotline. To also check if the Ukrainian Ministry of Internal Affairs has provided any information about their loved ones.
Marat, who lives and works in Virginia, told CNN that she withholds her full identity to protect her privacy. Telegram channel found a photo of his cousin’s ID card. connected to the Ukrainian government called “Find Your Missing” or “Ishi Svouik” in Russian. This channel publishes information about dead, wounded, or captured Russian soldiers fighting in Ukraine. The channel also publishes information such as passport photos, names, identification plate and information from military units.
Marat’s Russian-Russian family, Ufa, has asked for a hotline in order to protect their son. They fear it will provoke retaliation by Russian authorities. “All in Russia They are so afraid that their family refuses to call anyone. Everyone is scared to speak out and everyone is scared to see law enforcement watching over them,” Marat said.
CNN was informed by a top official in Ukraine that The hotline connected many Russian familiesRussian soldiers in Ukraine. “We invited them in Ukraine to see their children. However, so far, nobody has accepted.”
A depressed wife weeps in another post shared by CNN