Vladimir Putin ’s latest ploy to appease the families of men needed for his war in Ukraine is to offer them sheep, vegetables and firewood.
So far 91 live rams have been received by the unhappy mothers and wives of those who have gone to fight for their country in the Tuva republic, the home of Russian defence minister Sergei Shoigu.
More are due to be handed out as men are mobilised to fight in Ukraine some 3,200 miles away.
It comes as the brutal police force in Tuva were seen manhandling female protesters into cells-on-wheels after they protested about mobilisation of the region’s men.
A total of 27 women were detained, with violence used against the mother of a newborn baby girl.
One video shows two police officers holding a pram with a baby girl.
The woman yelled: “Let her go! Are you humans? Let her go?”
The Russian president is facing anger and defiance after he ordered a 300,000-strong military call up last month to save his failing war in Ukraine .
In September the Kremlin warmonger said he had signed a decree stating Russian reservists will be conscripted into Russia's military, sparking fury.
He said: "I shall stress that Russian citizens called up as part of mobilisation will be given all the benefits of those serving under contract.”
Failure to comply with the order, made during martial law, will be punished by imprisonment.
One woman said of the mobilisation order: “I recommend mobilising the entire Duma [parliament] and their families first of all.
“And let people see how loyal they are.“
As a result of the immobilisation, Russian men are freezing their sperm in case they are killed in Ukraine .
Several were reportedly heading to reproductive clinics before heading for the war zone .
Professor Igor Vinogradov, chief physician of the Scientific and Practical Centre for Reproduction in Moscow, said there had been a surge of new requests to store sperm by conscripted men.
Dmitry Mazurov, head of reproductive at UMMC-Health medical centre in Yekaterinburg, said the same trend was true outside the capital.
There were half a dozen clients a day compared with two or three a month in normal times, he said.
He added: “They call us and ask if it is possible to get emergency conservation in two hours, without preparation and examinations.”
A spokesman at St. Petersburg medical centre ICLINIC said they introduced a ten per cent discount for mobilised men.
He said: “We have introduced a promotion in connection with recent events.”
