Young Lives Lost: The Toll of Russia's War on School-Leavers in Ukraine

Despite Vladimir Putin’s assurances against deploying 18-year-olds to the frontlines, an investigation shows that many young Russians are enlisting and facing dire consequences. New military enlistment rules and patriotic education are enticing school-leavers to join the armed forces, often with tragic results.

In a striking revelation, a BBC Russian investigation has uncovered that at least 245 Russian soldiers, all 18 years old, were killed in Ukraine since the renewal of conflict in February 2022. This contradicts President Vladimir Putin's repeated promises that no 18-year-olds would be sent to serve on the battlefield. Although these young soldiers constitute a small portion of total casualties, the findings bring to light troubling policies that have enabled school-leavers to join the military directly as contract soldiers, thereby circumventing traditional conscription processes.

With an alluring mix of cash bonuses and patriotic indoctrination from an early age, young Russians are increasingly tempted to enlist. Among them, Alexander Petlinsky signed up for the army just 20 days before his tragic death, mere weeks after his 18th birthday. His family revealed that he had aspirations to pursue medicine but was drawn to the battlefield soon after the war began. His aunt, Ekaterina, spoke of how the conflict shaped his ambitions in a school memorial event.

As the war continues, Russia's approach to enlistment has evolved. Recent amendments to military regulations now allow any 18-year-old who completes high school to join the regular army without prior conscript experience. This strategy has replaced the need for mass mobilization by offering financial incentives, particularly appealing to those in economically depressed regions with limited job opportunities.

The military education policies in Russian schools have also been revamped to encourage enrollment. Students receive training that harkens back to the Soviet era, learning about weapons and military tactics as part of their curriculum. This is compounded by military recruiters actively promoting contract enlistment during school career guidance sessions.

Vitaly Ivanov, another young recruit, illustrates the pressure many of these teens face. His background of trouble with the law led him to enlist in the military. His family speculates that police may have influenced his decision as he expressed shock on the day he was deployed to combat in Ukraine.

Research shows that a concerning total of approximately 2,812 Russian soldiers aged 18-20 have lost their lives since the beginning of the war escalation. In total, the BBC has identified over 120,000 Russian military fatalities, but many believe this figure is only a fraction of the actual number. The devastating toll on the lives of youth like Petlinsky and Ivanov raises urgent questions about the ethics and motivations behind such enlistments.

While some parents are proud of their children’s service, the sorrow of loss remains palpable. Elena, Petlinsky's mother, voiced her conflicting feelings of pride and grief, epitomizing the emotional strain felt by families grappling with the ramifications of this war. Young individuals, often naive to the harsh realities of military service, face grim consequences contrary to their heroic aspirations, turning the subject of their involvement into a painful burden for communities across Russia.