Protests in Moscow: "Many men are hiding"

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Moscow late Saturday afternoon.

The police take away people demonstrating against the mobilization for the Ukraine war.

In several large cities in the country, people would take to the streets - even if they risk long prison sentences.

Or worse.

Christina lever, SPIEGEL correspondent in Moscow

Threatening conscription, lengthy prison sentences – Putin's police state is doing everything it can to deter protesters in advance.

Anyone who tries will be picked up immediately.

Christina lever, SPIEGEL correspondent in Moscow

Partial mobilization has changed the attitude of many Russians to the war.

As here in the town of Neryungri in the east of the country, men are being drafted into military service en masse.

While it was mainly regular soldiers and mercenaries who fought and died on the Russian side in Ukraine, it can now apparently affect almost anyone.

Christina lever, SPIEGEL correspondent in Moscow

Anyone who has not managed to do both can be sent to the front in the foreseeable future.

Whether that will change the mood in Russia and increase resistance to the Putin government remains to be seen.

One thing is certain: there is no sign of patriotic enthusiasm about the mobilization in large parts of the country.