Iconic photo from Illia Ponomarenko shows how young the Russian units sent to Kursk are.

12 comments

1. There are plenty of adult-age men in Moscow and St. Petersburg. No need to send teenagers like their are Germany in 1945.

2. Putin had been avoiding sending these kids to Ukraine because he realized how politically unpopular it would be, instead largely depending on poor middle aged men from the Asian part of the country. Now we will have to see what the reaction of ethnic Russian mothers is now that their sons are starting to be the ones who are getting killed and captured because of Putin’s war.

3. These kids wouldn’t have stood a chance against the battle-hardened UA Brigades that they are facing….

4. well it’s normal that they’re very young, those are conscripts!!!

5. Putinjugend

6. Anyone else remember Hitler Youth defended Germany?

7. Old men and children

8. All going according to plan!

   😃🇺🇦

9. These kids are probably all between 18-21 which was the typical age of drafted soldiers in every war in the 20th and 21st century. They are connected in some way which is why they aren’t on meat assaults in Ukraine. But the Ruskies have no choice but to deploy what’s close. Based on one video I saw they basically are just dropping these guys off in front of the Ukrainian advance with no comms or infrastructure.

10. Iconic photograph

11. Please stop using news links to Twitter. I refuse to go there!

12. just like nazi germany. putin’s russia is a failed state.