In a heart-wrenching revelation, BBC Russian has uncovered that at least 245 soldiers, all aged 18, have lost their lives in the ongoing war in Ukraine since the escalation in February 2022. Although President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly claimed that no such young recruits would be sent into combat, recent changes have enabled school-leavers to enter the military as contract soldiers, going straight into action rather than undergoing traditional military service.
These young recruits, like Alexander Petlinsky and Vitaly Ivanov, often come from economically struggling backgrounds, making the enticing cash benefits and promises of glory hard to resist. Petlinsky, who had ambitions of a medical career, enlisted just after his 18th birthday and was killed 20 days later at the front lines. His family expressed mixed emotions of pride and grief over their loss.
New education policies and military classes directly target students, emphasizing nationalism and military readiness. They even learn how to handle weapons, reminiscent of Soviet practices, while recruiters actively seek young individuals during school career fairs. The tragic cases of these young soldiers highlight a disturbing trend in Russia, where economic desperation and propaganda combine to recruit fresh school graduates into a deadly conflict.
Vitaly's last communication with his family was to announce his deployment, shortly before being killed just days later. The BBC's ongoing research estimates that 2,812 Russian men between the ages of 18 and 20 have perished in the war, hinting at a larger tragedy that goes beyond the surface of military statistics. As these stories unfold, friends and family lament the loss of innocence in these young lives caught in a conflict far beyond their understanding.
