August 19, 2024

Russian Teenagers Head to the Front Lines


Russian Teenagers Head to the Front Lines
Readiness check of the 2nd Guards Motor Rifle Division. Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation, Wikimedia Commons.

An increasing number of Russian teenagers are joining the fight in Russia's War on Ukraine as soon as they turn 18. They are often sent to the front after just two weeks of training.

Last spring, Russian President Vladimir Putin allowed 18-year-olds with no prior military experience or education to sign enlistment contracts. As of late June 2024, at least 40 Russians born in 2005 and 2006 have died in the war in Ukraine, according to the BBC Russian Service. In recent months, casualties among young contract soldiers have risen sharply. Between June 15 and Aug. 15, 2024, at least 13 Russians aged 18 have died, according to the news outlet Kholod (Cold). These young soldiers were just 15 or 16 years old when the war in Ukraine began. Kholod journalists spoke with relatives of fallen young soldiers to understand why they chose to go to war.

Some teenagers are driven by financial need. For example, Yaroslav Lipavsky from Tyumen, who died a month after his eighteenth birthday, wanted to earn money to support his pregnant girlfriend and to help his mother pay off her loans. Another teenager from Tyumen Oblast, Dmitry Sergeyev, signed a contract to save money for his wedding.

Others are influenced by their fathers' example or by government propaganda. Georgy Nadein from Perm was just eight years old when his stepfather first went to fight in Donbas in 2014, as part of the PMC Wagner. In February 2024, having just turned 18, Nadein signed a contract with a friend, saying he was “no worse than others.” On June 12, 2024, during another assault by the Russian army near Avdiivka, Nadein was sent on a combat mission for the first time. He died just four days later.

Another young soldier, 18-year-old Aleksei Shkoda from Novosibirsk Oblast, died during his second combat mission. Before going to the front, Shkoda was in a correctional colony. As soon as he was transferred to an adult correctional facility, he signed a military contract, even though he had only eight months left before his release. It is believed that Shkoda may have been influenced by propaganda.

“They are told in school classes and at formation that soldiers are fighting for the Motherland, and here you are, like this,” said the mother of another teenager held in a correctional colony.

You Might Also Like

A New Russian Culture?
  • July 31, 2024

A New Russian Culture?

The Russian presidential administration is trying to align culture with the war effort.
Lord of War's Fandom
  • July 25, 2024

Lord of War's Fandom

Russian teenagers continue to idolize PMC Wagner’s Yevgeny Prigozhin, even after his death.
Have Children, or Else
  • July 11, 2024

Have Children, or Else

Russian authorities are preparing bills to ban the "extremist ideology" about being child-free. 
Like this post? Get a weekly email digest + member-only deals

Some of our Books

Life Stories
September 01, 2009

Life Stories

The Life Stories collection is a nice introduction to contemporary Russian fiction: many of the 19 authors featured here have won major Russian literary prizes and/or become bestsellers. These are life-affirming stories of love, family, hope, rebirth, mystery and imagination, masterfully translated by some of the best Russian-English translators working today. The selections reassert the power of Russian literature to affect readers of all cultures in profound and lasting ways. Best of all, 100% of the profits from the sale of this book are going to benefit Russian hospice—not-for-profit care for fellow human beings who are nearing the end of their own life stories.

Bears in the Caviar
May 01, 2015

Bears in the Caviar

Bears in the Caviar is a hilarious and insightful memoir by a diplomat who was “present at the creation” of US-Soviet relations. Charles Thayer headed off to Russia in 1933, calculating that if he could just learn Russian and be on the spot when the US and USSR established relations, he could make himself indispensable and start a career in the foreign service. Remarkably, he pulled it of.

Driving Down Russia's Spine
June 01, 2016

Driving Down Russia's Spine

The story of the epic Spine of Russia trip, intertwining fascinating subject profiles with digressions into historical and cultural themes relevant to understanding modern Russia. 

Murder at the Dacha
July 01, 2013

Murder at the Dacha

Senior Lieutenant Pavel Matyushkin has a problem. Several, actually. Not the least of them is the fact that a powerful Soviet boss has been murdered, and Matyushkin's surly commander has given him an unreasonably short time frame to close the case.

Fearful Majesty
July 01, 2014

Fearful Majesty

This acclaimed biography of one of Russia’s most important and tyrannical rulers is not only a rich, readable biography, it is also surprisingly timely, revealing how many of the issues Russia faces today have their roots in Ivan’s reign.

93 Untranslatable Russian Words
December 01, 2008

93 Untranslatable Russian Words

Every language has concepts, ideas, words and idioms that are nearly impossible to translate into another language. This book looks at nearly 100 such Russian words and offers paths to their understanding and translation by way of examples from literature and everyday life. Difficult to translate words and concepts are introduced with dictionary definitions, then elucidated with citations from literature, speech and prose, helping the student of Russian comprehend the word/concept in context.

Steppe
July 15, 2022

Steppe

This is the work that made Chekhov, launching his career as a writer and playwright of national and international renown. Retranslated and updated, this new bilingual edition is a super way to improve your Russian.

Fish
February 01, 2010

Fish

This mesmerizing novel from one of Russia’s most important modern authors traces the life journey of a selfless Russian everywoman. In the wake of the Soviet breakup, inexorable forces drag Vera across the breadth of the Russian empire. Facing a relentless onslaught of human and social trials, she swims against the current of life, countering adversity and pain with compassion and hope, in many ways personifying Mother Russia’s torment and resilience amid the Soviet disintegration.

A Taste of Russia
November 01, 2012

A Taste of Russia

The definitive modern cookbook on Russian cuisine has been totally updated and redesigned in a 30th Anniversary Edition. Layering superbly researched recipes with informative essays on the dishes' rich historical and cultural context, A Taste of Russia includes over 200 recipes on everything from borshch to blini, from Salmon Coulibiac to Beef Stew with Rum, from Marinated Mushrooms to Walnut-honey Filled Pies. A Taste of Russia shows off the best that Russian cooking has to offer. Full of great quotes from Russian literature about Russian food and designed in a convenient wide format that stays open during use.

Davai! The Russians and Their Vodka
November 01, 2012

Davai! The Russians and Their Vodka

In this comprehensive, quixotic and addictive book, Edwin Trommelen explores all facets of the Russian obsession with vodka. Peering chiefly through the lenses of history and literature, Trommelen offers up an appropriately complex, rich and bittersweet portrait, based on great respect for Russian culture.

Moscow and Muscovites
November 26, 2013

Moscow and Muscovites

Vladimir Gilyarovsky's classic portrait of the Russian capital is one of Russians’ most beloved books. Yet it has never before been translated into English. Until now! It is a spectactular verbal pastiche: conversation, from gutter gibberish to the drawing room; oratory, from illiterates to aristocrats; prose, from boilerplate to Tolstoy; poetry, from earthy humor to Pushkin. 

About Us

Russian Life is the 31-year-old publication of an award-winning publishing house that also creates books, and other products for Russophiles the world over.

Latest Posts

Our Contacts

Russian Life
73 Main Street, Suite 402
Montpelier VT 05602

802-223-4955