RUSSIA: YOUNG MEN AND THEIR FAMILIES IN MURMANSK CONSIDER REFUSING MILITARY SERVICE AFTER RUSSIA'S BAD HANDLING OF KURSK SUBMARINE ACCIDENT

Record ID: 648602

  • Title: RUSSIA: YOUNG MEN AND THEIR FAMILIES IN MURMANSK CONSIDER REFUSING MILITARY SERVICE AFTER RUSSIA'S BAD HANDLING OF KURSK SUBMARINE ACCIDENT
  • Date: 21st August 2000
  • Summary: MURMANSK, RUSSIA (AUGUST 21, 2000) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 1. VARIOUS STREET SCENES IN MURMANSK / MURMANSK OFFICE OF "SOLDIERS' MOTHERS' COMMITTEE" (4 SHOTS) 0.24 2. VARIOUS: VOLUNTEERS AT OFFICE (4 SHOTS) 0.54 3. SCU: (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) LYUDMILLA KIPRENSKAYA, MOTHER OF A TEENAGER: "It [the news of disaster] hurts, I do not want him to serve in the navy." 1.06 4. MV: KIPRENSAKA IN OFFICE 1.10 5. MV: MURMANSK STREET 1.18 6. SCU: (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) MARINA ZAITSEVA, MOTHER OF A TEENAGER: "No way, there is no way I will allow my son to serve on a submarine. No mother, especially after what's happened now would allow her child to serve on a submarine or even in the forces in general. I think each mother now will do anything she can to prevent her son being drafted." 1.39 7. MV: PEOPLE GETTING ON A BUS 1.46 8. SCU: (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) DIMA, YOUNG MURMANSK RESIDENT: "If I were asked to serve on a submarine I would certainly say no. Just look how they have dealt with the problem. It was awful. They say one thing and do something completely different." 1.56 9. SLV/SV: STALL SELLING VIDEOS AND RECORDS (2 SHOTS) 2.08 10. SCU: (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) VOLODYA, YOUNG MURMANSK RESIDENT: "Our army has become weird. It is absolutely pointless, it is not worth serving these days. If the army were well organised then it might be attractive to serve but not in an army like this." 2.21 11. MV: STREET SCENE 2.25 12. SCU: (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) MISHA, YOUNG MURMANSK RESIDENT: "No, not a submarine, especially after this accident." 2.40 13. VARIOUS OF STREETS OF MURMANSK (4 SHOTS) 3.95 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 5th September 2000 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: MURMANSK, RUSSIA
  • Country: Russia
  • Reuters ID: LVAB4BE8X9309N2X83ZUNRKBVDNB
  • Story Text: Russia's handling of the Kursk submarine accident has
    caused many Russian boys and their families to consider
    refusing military service.



    Over the past week, the Murmansk Soldiers' Mothers'
    Committee has been receiving a flood of new visitors.

    The visitors are mostly women, and to be precise mothers
    of young boys who are approaching military service age.

    During Soviet years, military service in Russia was
    mandatory. After the Soviet collapse, Russian boys were given
    the legal option for alternative service, but civilian service
    institutions have not been set up.

    There is another change. In the Soviet years, military
    service was regarded as a duty, an honour.

    Now, record numbers of youths are trying to avoid it.

    And the Russian military's handling of the sunken
    submarine Kursk and its perceived slow response in rescuing
    118 sailors on board has fuelled that trend.

    Mothers coming to the Kursk office of the Soldiers'
    Mothers' Committee seek legal guidance on their rights and
    advice for their sons.

    Even in the port-city of Murmansk, where almost every
    family is somehow connected to the navy, boys are
    reconsidering whether or not they will serve.

    The loss of the Kursk is an immediate blow to Russia's
    military. It lost one of its best attack submarines and 118
    sailors--but it may have also suffered a loss of prestige and
    respect, as it may find out come recruitment season.


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