We’re sick of our young men being slaughtered say ordinary Russians
SOME of them look as if they should still be at school. Others, wide-eyed and clean shaven, should perhaps be at college or just starting a job.
Instead, all of them are dead – young Russian servicemen killed in Vladimir Putin’s pointless attack of Ukraine.
They are all among some 15,000 said to have been killed since the invasion began in February. Many of them come from the country’s distant east. Even the Kremlin admits it has suffered ‘significant losses’.
And now ordinary Russians – risking severe punishment – are taking to social media to speak out against the conflict.
One death which struck a chord with them was that of baby-faced tank driver Alexei Veselkov. The 24-year-old married in June 2021 and had a daughter last month. He never met his child.
Natasha Ilina said on social media: ‘God, it’s unbearable to read this. So young, and they haven’t even seen their children.’
Another commentator said: ‘He looks 17. It’s so sad. So many of our men have died.’
A third asked: ‘He’s such a child – when will this end?’
Olga Habibullovna implicitly criticised Putin, posting: ‘Why are we sending such young Russian men there? ’
Last month, Putin signed a law punishing anyone for sharing ‘false information’ about the war with up to 15 years in jail or fines of around £46,000.
Moscow does not even use the phrase ‘invasion’, calling the attack a ‘special military operation’.
But Russians are taking to Vkontakte, a widely used social media platform, as well as commenting openly on newspaper articles.
Writing about the death of junior sergeant Roman Sadykov, 25, Vera Kazachenko asked: ‘How many more will die before this is over?’ Marina Dengina asked: ‘When will it finally end? It’s so painful to read about these newly perished men. New faces every day.’
After the death of Corporal Maxim Bolshakov, 22, from UlanUde,
an eastern region near Mongolia hardest-hit by casualties, Tsyren-Dulma Ayusheeva said online: ‘I am only sorry for peaceful Ukrainian people and our military who are dying because of politicians making money in this so-called military operation.
‘This is a war, not something else... When will this be over?’