[Goose]

Since Russia "annexed" Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk and Zaporizhzhia oblasts, for the purposes of Russian law, would fighting in those regions be considered serving "outside Russia"?

BC

It is not considered fighting "outside Russia" from a strictly legalistic point of view. There are conscripts serving in the logistics and support functions in all the annexed areas. This is mitigated by the fact Russia attempts to utilize conscripted "locals" wherever possible. It appears that residents of these areas may or may not have "Russian" passports and may or may not be considered full citizens. However, Putin does not push the point. Ethnic Russian conscripts are not used in areas where they can be easily killed. They are not sent in as "meat" attacks. Of course, there are no guarantees and some are killed. Losses due to operations happen even in support functions, and also happen inside Russia itself. Often (it appears) such soldiers are simply listed as "missing" essentially forever. That means the family doesn't get benefits nor are they actually sure what happened or where. Much more common is beating up/threatening the conscripts (including ethnic Russians) until they sign on as "contract" soldiers and can be sent anywhere. Of course conscripts generally are beaten regardless, but it is worse when there is a shortage of troops.

Certainly there are and have been lots of conscripts serving in Crimea. Warships are also considered "Russian territory" and therefore conscripts can be sent to sea. Some of the personnel lost on the Moskva were conscripts. That was one reason for Russia claiming for a long time that nobody died.

[Goose]

Since Russia "annexed" Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk and Zaporizhzhia oblasts, for the purposes of Russian law, would fighting in those regions be considered serving "outside Russia"?

BC

It is not considered fighting "outside Russia" from a strictly legalistic point of view. There are conscripts serving in the logistics and support functions in all the annexed areas. This is mitigated by the fact Russia attempts to utilize conscripted "locals" wherever possible. It appears that residents of these areas may or may not have "Russian" passports and may or may not be considered full citizens. However, Putin does not push the point. Ethnic Russian conscripts are not used in areas where they can be easily killed. They are not sent in as "meat" attacks. Of course, there are no guarantees and some are killed. Losses due to operations happen even in support functions, and also happen inside Russia itself. Often (it appears) such soldiers are simply listed as "missing" essentially forever. That means the family doesn't get benefits nor are they actually sure what happened or where. Much more common is beating up/threatening the conscripts (including ethnic Russians) until they sign on as "contract" soldiers and can be sent anywhere. Of course conscripts generally are beaten regardless, but it is worse when there is a shortage of troops.

Certainly there are and have been lots of conscripts serving in Crimea. Warships are also considered "Russian territory" and therefore conscripts can be sent to sea. Some of the personnel lost on the Moskva were conscripts. That was one reason for Russia claiming for a long time that nobody died.