Vladimir Putin has repeatedly vowed that no 18-year-old Russian soldiers will be deployed to fight in Ukraine, but a BBC Russian investigation discovered that at least 245 servicemen of that age had been murdered there in the last two years. According to new government laws, adolescents fresh out of school can now forgo military duty and join the regular army as contract soldiers.
They may account for only a percentage of Russian losses, but financial bonuses and nationalistic indoctrination have made joining an appealing option. Alexander Petlinsky enlisted two weeks after his 18th birthday.
Petlinsky’s aunt, Ekaterina, claimed he had always wanted to be a doctor and had gotten into a medical college in Chelyabinsk, an industrial regional center in the Urals. But Sasha had another dream,” she explained during a school memorial gathering. “When the special military operation began, Sasha was 15. And he fantasized of going to the front.
Russia has avoided a nationwide mobilization by providing generous amounts to males of fighting age – an especially appealing offer for those living in impoverished areas with few work opportunities. Initially, males were required to complete at least three months of conscript duty before signing a contract.
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