NYT

A gunman who was apparently distraught over Russia’s chaotic military mobilization opened fire at a draft office in Siberia on Monday, seriously wounding a recruitment officer.
The shooting, in the town of Ust-Ilimsk, was the latest attack on a military recruitment center in Russia since President Vladimir Putin launched his full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Large numbers of civilians — especially ethnic minorities and people in far-flung parts of Russia and its territories — are being swept up in the Kremlin’s conscription drive, even as serious questions persist over Moscow’s ability to adequately train and equip the recruits.

As opposition to the mobilization grows, and amid rumors that the authorities could close the borders to keep draftees from leaving, an estimated 261,000 men fled Russia between Wednesday and Saturday.

Details: The authorities arrested the suspect, Ruslan Zinin. His mother told a local news outlet that her son’s close friend had received a draft summons despite having never served in the army. Russia’s defense minister pledged last week that only men with military experience and a specialization would be called for service.

Context: There have been numerous reports of people who are unfit for service being summoned to report for duty, prompting criticism of the mobilization process. A Kremlin spokesman acknowledged on Monday that there had been irregularities in the call-up, but sought to shift blame to local authorities implementing the mobilization.