In a powerful display of solidarity, the wives and relatives of Russian servicemen mobilized to fight in Ukraine gathered for a protest in central Moscow, calling for the safe return of their loved ones. Independent Russian news reports indicate that more than two dozen people, mostly journalists, were detained during the demonstration, which took place outside the Kremlin walls.

The protest marked 500 days since Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered a "partial mobilization" of up to 300,000 reservists in response to setbacks in Moscow's full-scale war against Ukraine. The relatives laid flowers at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and demanded the discharge of the reservists, advocating for their replacement with contract soldiers.

Organized by a campaign group called The Way Home, the demonstration drew support from individuals across Russia. A video published by independent news outlet SOTAvision captured one protester, identified as Antonina, expressing her fears and desires to have her husband returned alive. Antonina, in tears, emphasized that she did not seek compensation from the government in the event of her husband's death and even mentioned the possibility of joining a convent or following him.

This marked the ninth and largest protest organized by The Way Home, with an estimated turnout of approximately 200 people. Allies of imprisoned opposition figure Alexei Navalny and Russian opposition politician Maksim Kats voiced their support for the demonstration, while the Moscow prosecutor's office warned Russians against participating in "unauthorized mass events."

According to OVD-Info, an independent monitoring website, 27 individuals, primarily journalists, were detained during the protest. Most of them were later released, but Yaroslav Ryazanov, a male protester, remained in detention as of Saturday evening.

Amidst public backlash, the Russian military has attempted to bolster forces in Ukraine by enlisting more volunteers since late 2022. The government claimed that around 500,000 individuals signed contracts with the Defense Ministry last year. Despite these efforts, pleas from the wives and relatives to bring the mobilized reservists home have been met with resistance from Russia's government-controlled media. Some pro-Kremlin politicians have even attempted to discredit the protesters as Western pawns, accusations that were vehemently rejected by the demonstrators.

Maria Andreyeva, who has both a husband and brother fighting in Ukraine, described the conflict as a tragic situation between two brotherly nations. She emphasized that almost every Russian has relatives in Ukraine, and the situation has deeply affected them. Andreyeva expressed her hope that the sacrifices made by their grandfathers during World War II would ensure that conflicts like this would never occur again.

The timing of the protest holds significance as it comes just weeks before Russia's presidential election, which is scheduled to take place on March 15-17. Putin is widely expected to secure reelection. In recent weeks, several candidates, including former local legislator Boris Nadezhdin, have met with soldiers' relatives who are campaigning for the return of their loved ones. Nadezhdin criticized the Kremlin's decision to keep mobilized soldiers in active duty for as long as the fighting persists, calling for them to be treated with decency.

As the protest unfolds, the voices of these relatives grow louder, demanding the safe return of their loved ones from the war-torn region of Ukraine. Their pleas stand as a powerful reminder of the human cost and the lasting impact of conflict on families and communities.