Russian soldiers face severe discipline measures over phone use

Astra, an independent channel on Telegram, has published astonishing pictures and a video showing difficult-to-interpret installations in the forest and a military encampment. The post explains that these are mobile phones taken from Russian soldiers fighting on the front line in Ukraine. Russian commanders have ordered the nailing of these phones to trees or wooden boards as per new regulations.

The Astra channel on Telegram has shown remarkable constructions in the forest. Independent journalists have revealed a practice on the front line. They claim that Russian commanders have started confiscating and destroying mobile phones of their subordinates fighting in the war.

According to Astra, this is the result of new regulations being introduced. The State Duma recently approved the implementation of penalties for soldiers fighting in Ukraine for using phones.

Astra points out that where and when someone encountered and documented such constructions with nailed-down phones is unknown. However, it is certain that these images may be related to the adoption of the law on "disciplinary arrest" for the Russian military.

According to the new law in Russia, commanders are now able to send soldiers to detention for breaching discipline. Previously, such a penalty formally required a military court decision, although in practice soldiers endured various disciplinary sanctions arbitrarily indicated by superiors.

Now, the legislator has added another point to the regulations and set a punishment. "Disciplinary arrest" could result for a soldier using mobile communication, posting information about themselves or their place of service, sending data about their geolocation, or talking to journalists.

The regulation, established by the lower house of the Russian Federation’s parliament in July, applies to military personnel participating in the operation in Ukraine. Now, one can be sent to a cell without a military court decision.

The law has been criticised even by bloggers supporting the war. They remarked that it is almost tantamount to banning phone use in any situation. Following the wave of comments, Andrey Kartapolov, the head of the Defence Committee in the State Duma, announced that the law "would be refined".

Phones nailed to trees, however, could be a sign. Perhaps commanders take away the mobile phones of their subordinates themselves out of fear of being located by Ukrainian soldiers.