Russian State Word proposed an amendment that would allow commanders to punish their subordinates for using personal communication and navigation devices on the front line, reports News.bg.
This has sparked a backlash among bloggers and highlights how Russian forces continue to struggle with command and control problems and an over-reliance on uncertain technology to conduct combat operations in Ukraine.
The amendment would allow Russian commanders to arrest servicemen violating these regulations without a court order and detain violators for up to 10 days.
This is stated in the analysis of the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).
According to the Chairman of the Defense Committee of the State Duma of Russia, Andrei Kartapolov, there will be no penalties for servicemen using devices for combat operations. He notes that the amendment builds on a previous bill that generally banned the use of private devices in Ukraine.
Kartapolov argued that the main purpose of the amendment is to protect Russian servicemen from security risks associated with improper use of mobile phones.
Russian bloggers argue that punishing soldiers for using personal devices will significantly complicate Russian logistics and operations in general.
The bloggers also called on Duma MPs to work with the Russian Armed Forces on the proposed amendments and future legislation to ensure laws are in line with frontline realities, and urged MPs to visit the frontline in Ukraine.
One critical Russian blogger accused Kartapolov and his team of treason and pursuing a policy that helped Ukraine win the war.
Another Russian blogger complained that the amendment would be yet another arbitrary rule that commanders could use to justify punishing careless conscripts or awkward subordinates.
Ukrainian forces carried out drone strikes against a ferry in the Caucasus, Krasnodar Territory on the night of July 22-23. Representatives of the Krasnodar region claim that Ukrainian drones struck a ferry in the port of the Caucasus, causing a temporary fire.
Caucasus Ferry Terminal is about 15 kilometers from occupied Kerch, Crimea across the Kerch Strait.
Russian President Vladimir Putin appointed a new deputy head of the Russian Emergencies Ministry on July 22, and on July 23 several personnel changes were made in the Russian State Duma. Putin appointed the former head of the Moscow Region Roszdravnadzor (Federal Health Monitoring Service) Roman Kurinin as the deputy head of the Russian Emergencies Ministry, replacing Lieutenant General Alexei Serko, who had held the post since 2018, as quoted by News.bg .
The State Duma of Russia relieved Deputy Chairman of the Duma Sergey Neverov, Pavel Zavalny and Dmitry Svishtov from the leadership of the Committees on Energy and Physical Education and Sports on July 23.
Chairman of the Russian State Duma Vyacheslav Volodin said that the Duma will also consider proposals for new heads of the committees on culture and nationalities.
A well-known Russian insider said that Neverov's dismissal suggests that Volodin may be losing some of his control over the State Duma.