A shocking video shows a Russian child in a uniform and holding a gun as he’s urged to ‘kill Ukrainians’ by a superior officer. The footage has been widely shared on social media
There have been allegations of forced conscription in some regions of Russia (stock)(Image: Getty Images)
A disturbing video showing a Russian child in military get-up brandishing a weapon while being ordered to “kill Ukrainians” is causing an uproar on the web.
Circulated by ex-Ukraine’s Interior Ministry aide Anton Geraschenko, the contentious film is yet to be confirmed, and the recording spot remains a mystery. In the clip, the confused kid gazes into the lens while an off-screen voice goads: “Learn how to kill Khokhols (a disparaging Russian slang for Ukrainians). You’ll be practising next. Got it?”
The youngster responds to the officer with a stoic, “Yes sir!”, before receiving commands to engage in the “fight”.
The Russian child is told to ‘kill Ukrainians’ in the disturbing clip(Image: @Gerashchenko_en/X)
Amid the footage, other troops are witnessed crawling through sand while holding rifles, spurred on by shouts of “Hurry up! Move your elbows,” reports the Express.
At one stage a voice says: “Don’t swing your [eff]ing elbows or you’ll get shot.” Wrapping up the session, the juvenile is informed: “Got it Sokol? Ukrainians won’t kill themselves. We must do it.”
Geraschenko slammed the indoctrination, stating: “This is how Russians teach children for the war against Ukraine. Sick people. Sick Russian society.”
While Russia sets the conscription age at 18, 2023 saw legislative tweaks permitting those up to 65 years to enrol for contracted service.
In Russia, all men aged 18 to 27 are expected to pull on their military boots for a one-year stint due to conscription laws. With two call-up seasons in spring and autumn, some can dodge the draft if they’re hitting the books at uni, have health issues, or need to look after their family.
Soldiers crawl through sand in the video(Image: @Gerashchenko_en/X)READ MORE: Sick ‘Eunuch Maker’ who offered desperate men £25k to lop off their genitals with knives
But ever since Russia kicked off its war with Ukraine, reports indicate that some deferments have been more strictly reviewed, and there have been allegations of forced conscription in some regions.
When the conflict started in 2022, Moscow saw fit to ramp up its manpower by not just sticking to the usual draft but also enticing reservists and volunteers and getting older gents to join the fray.
They slapped a “partial mobilisation” notice last year, eyeing up blokes as old as 55 who’ve had a taste of military life before.
It’s not just your average Joe either, even the blokes on the fringes of society, including prisoners, are being roped into serving.
As late as 2022 and rolling into 2023, the Wagner Group a – band of mercenary types chummy with the Kremlin – started poaching their new muscle straight out of the clink.
The unverified footage was shared by Anton Geraschenko, a former adviser to Ukraine’s Interior Ministry(Image: @Gerashchenko_en/X)
Inmates were given promises of leniency and financial incentives in return for six-month combat tours, frequently in some of the most perilous frontlines.
Reports suggest that many of these recruits were inadequately trained and equipped, resulting in high casualty rates among their ranks.
Despite its controversy, this strategy highlights the Kremlin’s desperation to bolster its forces and sustain its offensive in Ukraine despite increasing difficulties.