On August 9, Russia’s Emergency Situations Ministry declared a federal-level emergency in the Kursk region, where Ukrainian forces had already been advancing for four days. Anywhere from several dozen to several hundred non-mobilized conscripts may have been in the region when Ukrainian troops crossed the border. Journalists from the independent outlet Verstka spoke with the families of seven conscripts serving near the city of Sudzha to learn the fates of these young men who, according to Russian law, should be stationed “outside of the conflict zone.” Meduza shares an English-language translation of their findings.