Russian teens among thousands 'lured to fight' in Ukraine say activists

Updated

Activists says it is an open secret that thousands of Russians are fighting, and dying, in Ukraine.

Despite an official ceasefire in Eastern Ukraine, the fighting in some places has never really stopped.

This week, mortar shells once again fell onto civilian areas in the city of Donetsk and in some parts of the city, people have been living in basements for months.

On the outskirts of the city, a fierce battle for control of Donetsk's airport has left terminals shot up and largely destroyed.

Ukrainian government forces have stubbornly held on as pro-Russian rebels methodically advance, building by building.

For many young Russians, the ongoing conflict has proved to be a strong lure.

No-one is really sure how many have volunteered to join the fight. But activist group Gruz 200 – named after the Russian military designation for soldiers killed in action – estimates more than 4,000 Russians have died or are missing in the fighting in eastern Ukraine.

Many of those who have joined pro-Russian rebels are young men and come from all over Russia to join the fight.

Teen recruited via social media

In the island city of Kronshtadt, outside St Petersburg, the mother of one volunteer still cries easily when she tells her son's story.

Zhanna Pushkarova, who also goes by her married surname Zalogina, explains that she did not even know her 18-year-old son, Yevgeny, had volunteered until he called from Ukraine.

"I was so yelling by phone: '(Yevgeny), what have you done! Why have you gone there!' And he said: No worries mum! Everything will be OK with me."

But in October, after a little more than a month on the frontlines, Yevgeny Pushkarov was killed.

As a teenager he had long dreamed of joining the army and belonged to a paramilitary club.

During his teenage years, he often spent time in the Russian equivalent of army cadets and took part in war games on the weekends.

His family said he was easy pickings for recruiters who contacted him through a social media site.

Ms Pushkarova still burns with anger when she talks about how he was recruited.

"How could he really help if he had not even served in the army?" she said.

"The fact is that he was running with a rifle for pictures. It was nothing but a game. But this is real life!"

Conscripts wind up fighting with pro-Russian rebels: activists

At the offices of the Soldier's Mothers Committee in St Petersburg, they know this story well.

Activist Ella Polyakova said it was not only young volunteers heading to fight in Ukraine.

She said some young Russians doing mandatory army service have also wound up fighting with pro-Russian rebels.

"Conscripts are kept in military field camps at the border with Ukraine without any information," she said.

"And then as if by miracle they turn out to be on the territory of a foreign state."

For families of the dead, there is no help from the government.

Ms Pushkarova said she was told there would be no compensation because officially, Russia is not at war.

Her family needed donations to pay the equivalent of $1,600 to have her son's body returned home.

"I got nothing from the state, from the local administration", she said.

"I was just paid about 5,000 roubles (about $100 at the time). That's what is paid to everyone in Russia for a funeral. Nothing more."

Ms Polyakova said despite the Kremlin's denials, it was an open secret that funerals for those killed in battle are taking place across Russia.

And they will keep happening, she said, as long as Russians are fighting – and dying – in Ukraine.

Topics: unrest-conflict-and-war, russian-federation, ukraine

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