The mayor of Vorkuta, a coal-mining town in the Arctic republic of Komi, has enlisted in the Russian army to fight in the country’s war against Ukraine.
“The time has come to offer direct support to our boys and for me to join the special military operation as a military serviceman of Russia’s Defense Ministry,” Mayor Yaroslav Shaposhnikov announced at a pro-war rally Tuesday.
Shaposhnikov, 44, said he would be joined on the frontline by five of his colleagues, all local officials from Vorkuta. But representatives of the city administration later said that the five civil servants “could change their minds,” regional news outlet Sever.Realii reported.
“This was a conscious decision. The head of [the republic of] Komi supported my [choice]. Victory will be ours,” the mayor said of his surprise decision on Tuesday in front of a crowd of some 200 people, most of whom were state workers who had been required to attend the event.
Shaposhnikov is expected to join Russian forces fighting in Ukraine in May and his military service will last for one year, his press secretary told Sever.Realii.
Shaposhnikov will be replaced by one of his deputies until a new mayor is elected, the press secretary added.
In October last year, Shaposhnikov gained notoriety when he said during a video interview that “around 10%” of Russian volunteers choose to go to war to avoid nagging from their wives.
“Dear women, take care of your husbands. Your husbands … don’t feel [the security of] the homefront when they are constantly nagged and that motivates them to go to the frontlines [in Ukraine],” Shaposhnikov said.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
