 |
|
Three child soldiers under the age of 17 in Lysychansk
|
I
will post several news sources about child soldiers being used in Novorossiya.
I will tell the tale of two child soldiers – Royce and Stark:
INTERNET SOURCE: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-30134421
26
November 2014 Last updated at 00:29
Ukraine
conflict: Child soldiers join the fight
By Vitaly
Shevchenko BBC Monitoring
 |
|
A soldier thought to be aged 15 poses for
Russian TV on top of a tank captured from the Ukrainians
[PHOTO SOURCE: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-30134421]
|
Child soldiers appear to be
playing a part on both sides of the conflict in eastern Ukraine. A boy as young
as 15 has been shown training pro-Russian separatist recruits in how to handle
weapons, while Ukrainian media have told the story of a 17-year-old volunteer
sapper.
It is a development that particularly worries the
UN children's agency, Unicef, which is investigating "anecdotal evidence
that children have been recruited and may be directly involved in the
fighting".
The fighting, which erupted in April, has claimed
more than 4,300 lives and left some 10,000 people wounded.
"Armed groups should not, under any
circumstances, recruit or use in hostilities people under the age of 18
years," says the agency's Ukraine representative Giovanna Barberis.
Early in November, Russian state TV carried a
report about two "underage soldiers" serving alongside
separatists in the rebel stronghold of Donetsk. Both are called Andrey and are
members of one of the most widely-known rebel units, the Vostok battalion. As
is common among fighters in Ukraine, they have their own noms de guerre - Royce
and Stark.
Royce leads a supply squad, while Stark is in
charge of a munitions depot, official Rossiya 1 TV said. "Stark leaves his Kalashnikov behind only when he is on
leave," it added.
The battalion's commanders were like fathers to the
boys now, the report said. "We need more guys like
them and we won't be afraid of enemies. They are the future generation," said
one Vostok commander.
 |
|
A battalion commander said he needed more
children like the two serving with him
|
Battlefield training
Russian TV did not specify the boys' exact age, but
in an earlier interview broadcast on Finnish YLE television this year Royce said he was 15. He
was shown flanked by two young men wearing balaclavas, one of whom claimed to
be 17.
Royce told YLE that he taught recruits how to
handle weapons and move about on the battlefield. "I
keep my eye on my trainees as if they were children," he said.
A fighter with another prominent rebel unit, led by
a Russian nicknamed Motorola, said he was serving alongside children as young
as 16, according to Ukrainian daily Segodnya. The unnamed rebel told the paper that
children were normally sent to training camps and were kept back from frontline
combat.
Under a UN definition, a child soldier is "any person below 18 years of age who is, or who has
been, recruited or used by an armed force or armed group in any capacity",
such as fighters, cooks, porters or spies. The UN Convention on the Rights of
the Child prohibits the recruitment of soldiers under the age of 15.
"Portrayed as heroes"
Ukrainian media were outraged by the upbeat tone of
the Russian reports. "Children who were recruited
by militants and are now ready to kill Ukrainians in Donetsk region are
portrayed as heroes by Russian TV," said popular TV channel One Plus One.
 |
|
A
17-year-old sapper (R) sits next to his commander after returning from the
conflict zone
|
But other Ukrainian TV channels have featured a pro-Kiev
child soldier, without questioning whether it was right for him to be involved
in the conflict.
Their reports told the story of a 17-year old who
had spent two months in the conflict zone. For a week, he was a sapper at Savur
Mohyla, the scene of extremely heavy fighting, one report said. Eventually, he
was wounded and taken to hospital in central Ukraine.
Speaking from hospital, he told 5 Kanal that he had
lied about his age to enlist in a volunteer battalion. But his commander seemed
to be aware of how young he was.
"He always tried to be right at the front, he
had to be kept back. It's not a person's age that matters here, but how
prepared they are to fight for their country," he told Ukrayina
TV, his face concealed by a balaclava.
Some, however, are sceptical about reports of the
involvement of child soldiers in the conflict. One Donetsk resident who claimed
to live next to a separatist base told the Segodnya daily that he had never seen children
there. "The militants like claiming that children fight for them because
it makes them look cool," he said.
Human cost of conflict in east Ukraine
 |
|
Mourners at the funeral on 7 November of two
schoolboys killed by shelling in Donetsk, Andrei Yeliseyev (18) and Daniil
Kuznetsov (14)
|
4,317 deaths since April, 957 of them since the 5
September ceasefire, and 9,921 people wounded
466,829 internally displaced persons within Ukraine
454,339 refugees living abroad, 387,355 of them in
Russia
UN data from 18 November
School is compulsory in Ukraine until the age of
17. Despite the hostilities, the education system in most rebel-held areas is
still functioning and almost all children of the school age attend classes.
Even Royce is reported to be doing his studies "remotely".
However, in some cases, separatists have even taken
to visiting schools to hold what they term "patriotic education
lessons".
There have also been reports
in pro-Kiev media that children as young as 14 have been encouraged by the
separatists to spy on Ukrainian troops.
The direct involvement of children in the conflict
is by no means widespread. But the chaos of war has meant that some have found
themselves taking an active role alongside adults, and sometimes with their
encouragement.
A
Tale of Two Child Soldiers- Royce and Stark
Early
in November, Russian state TV carried a report about two
"underage soldiers" serving alongside separatists in the rebel
stronghold of Donetsk. Both are called Andrey and are members of one of the
most widely-known rebel units, the Vostok battalion. As is common among
fighters in Ukraine, they have their own noms de guerre - Royce and Stark.
Royce
leads a supply squad, while Stark is in charge of a munitions depot, official
Rossiya 1 TV said. "Stark leaves his Kalashnikov behind only when he is on
leave," it added.
The
battalion's commanders were like fathers to the boys now, the report said. "We need more guys like them and we won't be afraid of
enemies. They are the future generation," said one Vostok
commander.
A
disturbing feature of Phillips’ pictures was that some child soldiers are seen
in some of them. Not just in his photos, but Russia’s state TV channel RTR ran
a clip specifically on some child soldier volunteers there as well as RT’s
Ruptly news agency which showed one 15-year-old training with Sut’Vremini
there. Another perhaps just a bit older was identified as a Senior Lieutenant
and posed for RTR on and inside a 2S19 MSTA-S self-propelled howitzer—the
newest such kit in the Russian arsenal (though this one looked a bit worse for
wear). He was shown going into his old school class in uniform to the
admiration of his classmates. Chicks dig guys with AK-74s apparently. As most
bizarre patch was seen on their uniforms and on a couple others in the photos.
The bottom is the orange and black striped Russian victory ribbon (termed the
Colorado ribbon by the Ukrainians after its similarity to the Colorado Potato
Bug), while the top is a diagonally slashed mix of the Soviet flag and the
black-yellow-white flag of the Romanov dynasty that is used widely by Russian
nationalist groups. This apparently is the “I really don’t know what the hell I
stand for” flag, but is fully in keeping with the Putin regime’s mixing of
Soviet, tsarist, nationalist, and fascist elements. (PHOTO SOURCE: http://www.planetputin.com/new-russian-recruits-child-soldiers-and-graham-phillips/)
PHOTO SOURCE: http://yle.fi/uutiset/separatistiteini_andrei_donetskista_pelkaan_enemman_synnyinmaani_puolesta_kuin_kuolemaa/7381164
 |
|
Royce the 15 year old child soldier in
Donetsk.
|
Separatistiteini Andrei from Donetsk: "I'm afraid
for my country was more than death"
Supplier Erkka
Mikkonen went towards the East of Ukraine in Donetsk at the same time, the
city's train station fired grenades. Separatist base, he
met a 15-year-old Andrei, who has followed his father, the rebel ranks. Andrei is too young for combat missions, but he trains new
volunteers.
Phone interrupts a discussion. Ukrainalaismieliset forces have struck the Donetsk railway station. Local kranaattitulituksessa is dead and the area evacuated. We are due to arrive at that same station the next morning.
Life goes on in the East
Kiev will go up in the evening full of Donetsk train. The airport changed battleground train is the only connection to Donetsk. Passengers look is reflected in the concern. All seem to speak in the morning events.In the same Donetsk travel to our cabin early twenties Masha. Ukraine country sprint team representing the young woman is on the way to his hometown of knee surgery. Team West from Ukraine in the masseur invites Masha using separatist, but it is the play.
All are tired of the eastern Ukrainian hopeless situation in the area, but also Masha.
However, he jokes and do not want to sink into despair. Masha cheerfulness and tranquility stick with us. It is no longer nervous.
Donetsk new hosts
 |
|
Russian TV did not specify the boys' exact
age, but in an earlier interview broadcast on Finnish YLE
television this year Royce said he was 15. He was shown flanked by two young
men wearing balaclavas, one of whom claimed to be 17.
[PHOTO SOURCE: http://euromaidanpress.com/2014/08/02/donetsk-terrorists-openly-recruit-child-soldiers/]
Andrei (center) and a
couple of years older than the Roman and Igor include separatists
Vostok-brigade. Image: YLE "The People's Republic of Donetsk" wakes up sleepy
or direct sunlight. Millions streets of the city
is quiet. People avoid unnecessary travel in the
city during the day. At night, it will take care
of the curfew.
|
The seventh floor corridor attached to a piece of paper tells us we arrived at the Ministry of Information. All suppliers must be authorized to work in the area tag.
Journalism in the danger zone
The gate opens rebels Vostok-brigade base. The surrounding area is full of a variety of terrain patterns. Chechen oloinen young man jogging past the Tobacco place where a middle-aged man sitting wearing a white, fluffy kasakkahattu.South Russia arrived in Donetsk Vladimir introduces us to young interviewees. The man warns presented too provocative questions. Otherwise, we will remain the base for a longer period of time, Vladimir winks to others.
I laughed nervously. The data suppliers to capture and ill-treatment in Ukraine are commonplace. International journalists' safety investigative Institute INSI recently listed Ukraine as the most dangerous country in the supplier's work. According to the Institute in the country this year, seven journalists have been killed.
Young and ready to die
Andrey (Royce) feeding the magazine of his
Kalashnikov assault rifle
[PHOTO
SOURCE: http://yle.fi/uutiset/separatistiteini_andrei_donetskista_pelkaan_enemman_synnyinmaani_puolesta_kuin_kuolemaa/7381164]
15-year-old Andrei
train new separatistitaistelijoita mm. gun handling. Image: YLE We face the base 15-year-old Andrei. He volunteers to train fighters separatists Vostok-brigade.
He teaches gun handling and shooting, but also
punkanella making and the movement of the battlefield.
Andrey (Royce) feeding the magazine of his
Kalashnikov assault rifle
[PHOTO
SOURCE: http://yle.fi/uutiset/separatistiteini_andrei_donetskista_pelkaan_enemman_synnyinmaani_puolesta_kuin_kuolemaa/7381164]
15-year-old Andrei
train new separatistitaistelijoita mm. gun handling. Image: YLE We face the base 15-year-old Andrei. He volunteers to train fighters separatists Vostok-brigade.
He teaches gun handling and shooting, but also
punkanella making and the movement of the battlefield.
Andrei followed his
father Sergei the rebel ranks. The base is also the
parents, including primary school friends. The
boys are confident that the end of the year is celebrated here in the war for
profit.
Andrei is peers,
kilt-looking boy, but very sober. It is as if time had
already hit the bleakness of his gaze maturity of the stamp. He says he fear death, but the more he is afraid of was born
on.
The human killing, he must be really
difficult, because the enemy is not necessarily a bad.
 |
|
Sergei, Royce’s father
[PHOTO
SOURCE: http://yle.fi/uutiset/separatistiteini_andrei_donetskista_pelkaan_enemman_synnyinmaani_puolesta_kuin_kuolemaa/7381164]
Andrei's father Sergei
respect the choice of his son, even though he does not have his or her age
should not fight with a weapon in hand. Image:
YLE
Andrei is still too young and inexperienced combat
missions, but he says are hungry for real action. The field in the beginning of the young man's desire to try
to pull your mental limits.
|
Grudge Match
After two days, we stand in the station
waiting for the night train Kharkiv. Work has been done,
and a feeling of relaxation to start filling your body. Further along the echoes. Herkistämme
ears.
Loud ask the passengers to move underground
weakened security situation. People move their
heads shaking station platforms passing underneath the tunnel. The explosions seem imminent.
The status of the lights go out. The train is already more than half an hour late. I would like to back home.
INTERNET SOURCE: http://www.segodnya.ua/regions/donetsk/deti-na-voyne-v-donbasse-terroristy-nabirayut-i-treniruyut-podrostkov-567478.html
Дети на войне: в Донбассе террористы набирают и тренируют подростков 
Психологи говорят, что воюющие дети становятся
"адреналинозависимыми" и перестают адекватно воспринимать реальность
Террористы
в Донбассе вербуют в свои ряды подростков — парней 15—17 лет. В интернет попало
видеоинтервью ребят из Донецка, которые заявили, что им 15 лет и они являются
бойцами террористической бригады "Восток".
"Я
патриот, и у меня страх смерти на втором плане, на первом — страх за
родину", — сообщил один из них, с позывным "Ройс". Он также
добавил, что был членом Донецкого военно-патриотического клуба, как и другие
его юные собратья по оружию.
На днях
британский журналист Грэм Филлипс рассказал о еще одном
юном бойце. Филлипс разместил фото 15-летнего мальчика у себя на странице в
соцсети и подписал: "Это Андрей. Ему 15 лет. Он присоединился к батальону
"Восток" по собственному желанию, чтобы "бороться с
фашизмом". Но вряд ли в настоящее время будет принимать участие в активных
военных действиях".
Представители
так называемой "ДНР" уверяют, что мальчишки приходят к ним сами.
"Мы отправляем их в тренировочные лагеря, они там проходят курс молодого
бойца. На передовую мы их пока не пускаем, — сообщил один из боевиков. — Больше
всего новобранцев в отряде у "Моторолы" (россиянина Арсения Павлова.
— Авт.), там есть те, кому еще не исполнилось 17 лет".
Почти
каждый вечер из донецких лесопосадок и с территорий закрытых шахт на окраинах
доносятся характерные звуки автоматных очередей — там находятся тренировочные
базы боевиков.
"Возле
моего дома — база "Востока", но я никогда не видел среди боевиков
детей. Есть парни около 20 лет, — поделился с "Сегодня" житель
Киевского района Сергей. — Думаю, боевикам на руку говорить, что за них воюют
дети — это, наверное, должно показать, какие они крутые и правильные. Но какие
мозги сейчас у 15-летних?"
"Адреналинозависимые"
дети
Психологи
считают, что воюющие дети становятся "адреналинозависимыми" и это все
губительно для них.
"Находиться
зоне военный действий — стресс для любого организма, истощение внутренних
резервов, ведь ребенок постоянно находится на эмоциональном и психическом пике.
Это может привести к необратимым последствиям. Дети привыкают к бурлящему
адреналину в крови, перестают распознавать опасность — и вырастают в наемников,
переезжающих с одной войны на другую, чтобы постоянно подпитываться своим и
чужим страхом".
Молодые
бойцы воюют и с украинской стороны. Так, вчера во время боя возле донецкого
аэропорта погиб 18-летний доброволец из Сум Сергей Табола, позывной
"Север". 16 декабря Сергею должно было исполниться 19 лет.
Children at War: in Donbass
terrorists recruit and train teenagers
Psychologists say that children
become combatants "adrenalinozavisimymi" and cease to perceive
reality
 |
|
Andrew (Stark) wants
to be a fighter.
Photo: G. Phillips
|
Terrorists in the Donbass recruit into their ranks
teenagers - boys 15-17 years. The Internet got video interview the guys from
Donetsk, who said they had 15 years and they are fighters of the terrorist gang
"Vostok".
"I am a patriot, and I have a fear
of death in the background, on the ground - fear for their country," - said one of them, with the
call sign "Royce". He also added that he was a member of the Donetsk
military-patriotic club, like his other young brothers in arms.
A few days ago a British journalist Graham Phillips told about another
young fighter. Phillips posted a photo of 15-year-old boy on the page in the
social network and signed: "This is Andrew. He was
15 years old. He joined the battalion" Vostok "on their
own" to fight fascism. "But it is unlikely at
the moment is to take active part in the hostilities. "
Representatives of the so-called "DNR"
assure that the boys come to them yourself. "We send them to training
camps, they're undergoing a young soldier. At best, we do not let them yet -
said one of the militants. - Most of the recruits in the unit at the"
Motorola "(Russians Arseny Pavlova. - Ed.), There there are those who have
not yet turned 17 years old. "
Almost every evening from Donetsk plantations and
areas with abandoned mines on the outskirts hear the characteristic sounds of
gunfire - there are militant training bases.
"Near my home - base" of the East ",
but I've never seen among the militants children. There are guys about 20 years
- shared with" Today "a resident of Kiev region Sergey. - I think,
into the hands of the militants say that they are fighting for the children -
it probably has to show what they're cool and correct. But what brains now
15-year-old? "
 |
|
15 year old soldier with Russians in Donetsk
|
"Adrenalinozavisimye" children
Psychologists believe that children become
combatants "adrenalinozavisimymi" and all these things detrimental to
them.
"Being a war zone - any organism to stress,
exhaustion of internal reserves, because the child is constantly on the
emotional and mental peak. This can lead to irreversible consequences. Children
get used to the bustling adrenaline, cease to recognize the danger - and grow
into mercenaries who move from one war to another to constantly nourished his
and others' fear. "
Young men are fighting and the Ukrainian side. So,
yesterday, during a battle near Donetsk airport killed 18-year-old volunteer
from Sumy Sergey Tabola, call the "North". December 16, Sergei was
about to turn 19 years old.
 |
|
Royce (left) and Stark (right) – two child
soldiers of the Vostok Battalion
|
Ukraine:
See 15-yo train with Vostok Battalion in Donetsk
Published on Nov 5, 2014
Video ID: 20141105-011
M/S Andrew fires assault rifle
M/S Andrew standing with Vostok Battalion
M/S Andrew standing with Vostok Battalion
M/S Andrew loading assault rifle
M/S Fellow militants watching Andrew shooting
M/S Andrew fires assault rifle
M/S Andrew standing with Vostok Battalion
M/S Andrew standing with Vostok Battalion
M/S Andrew loading assault rifle
M/S Fellow militants watching Andrew shooting
SOT, Andrew. 15 year old fighter
for Vostok Battalion of DNR/DPR (in Russian): "I'm Andrew, codename
"Mustar". I'm 15 years old. I serve in the Donetsk People's Republic
and I want to connect my future with the army, to learn in the military
academy."
Reporter: "And why did you decide to enter the self-defence?"
Andrew: "I want the Kiev army to leave."
Reporter: "Who are they for you?"
Andrew: “Fascists."
Reporter: "And why did you decide to enter the self-defence?"
Andrew: "I want the Kiev army to leave."
Reporter: "Who are they for you?"
Andrew: “Fascists."
M/S Andrew training with
battalion
SCRIPT
At the age of 15, Andrew, a local boy from Donetsk is the youngest volunteer to train with the Vostok Battalion of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic (DNR/DPR). He was seen being put through his paces at a Vostok training centre in a Donetsk suburb, Wednesday.
The youngster codenamed "Mustar" said that he volunteered with the Vostok Battalion in order to defend Donetsk from Kiev "fascists." The boy's parents say they are proud of his decision, although the Vostok Battalion's instructor insists that he will not go into battle until he is "physically and emotionally ready."
SCRIPT
At the age of 15, Andrew, a local boy from Donetsk is the youngest volunteer to train with the Vostok Battalion of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic (DNR/DPR). He was seen being put through his paces at a Vostok training centre in a Donetsk suburb, Wednesday.
The youngster codenamed "Mustar" said that he volunteered with the Vostok Battalion in order to defend Donetsk from Kiev "fascists." The boy's parents say they are proud of his decision, although the Vostok Battalion's instructor insists that he will not go into battle until he is "physically and emotionally ready."
VIDEO
SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HnczvbYsmpI
INTERNET SOURCE: http://euromaidanpress.com/2014/08/02/donetsk-terrorists-openly-recruit-child-soldiers/
Donetsk
terrorists openly recruit child soldiers
2014/08/02
Donetsk militants are now recruiting child
soldiers, and they’re not hiding the fact either.
This worrisome fact comes from a Russian
photojournalist who recently arrived in Donetsk by train to document the
situation.
The boy seen above, Andrew, is 15 and
wears the uniform of the Vostok Battalion. The identity of the two
masked adolescents who flank him wielding assault rifles are not known.
 |
|
Andrey (Royce) feeding the magazine of his
Kalashnikov assault rifle
|
Andrew was recently put in a unit of reinforcements
during an actual combat mission, but has so far avoided taking part in any
battles. A Donetsk Republic militant says the boys have yet to
be ‘baptized by fire’. Despite not being an adult, the terrorist
group has already made him a commander of a training division.
The apple does not fall far from the tree, though:
his parents approved of sending him off to fight the Ukrainian army, and his
father is also a member of the notorious Vostok Battalion,
one of the many terrorist groups to emerge in eastern Ukraine that is largely
made up of Russians and Chechens.
He’s been indoctrinated to believe tropes typical
of Russian propaganda. Andrew says he’ll fight to the death against what
he calls “the junta” because “we have nowhere to retreat.” He believes his
cause is defending against a “true genocide.”
While according to the Geneva Conventions,
recruiting children over the age of 15 into an armed force is permissible under
certain conditions, under the Optional Protocol to the Convention on
the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict,
which was adopted and signed in 2002, non-state actors and guerrilla forces
such as the Donetsk Republic organization are expressly forbidden from
recruiting anyone under the age of 18 for any purpose.
 |
|
Royce (left) and Stark (right) – two child
soldiers of the Vostok Battalion shaking hands.
|
 |
|
Child
Sr Lieutenant wearing confused Soviet-Tsarist-Victory Ribbon Patch
|
Ukraine Crisis | 15 years old hero of Novorossiya |
English Subtitles
Published on Aug 6, 2014
http://www.youtube.com/user/2014AntiM...
Ukraine Crisis: Latest News
Interview with Commander of Training Unit, 15 year old Hero of Novorossiya
taken from here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D7dqk...
For those who are fed up with mass media. Latest news, latest footage on Ukraine Crisis, interviews from the locals, news from the battlefield. Get a complete picture of the crisis in Ukraine. Visit our channel at:
http://www.youtube.com/user/2014AntiM...
Ukraine Crisis: Latest News
http://youtu.be/18pCPHOOmIE
Ukraine Crisis: Latest News
Interview with Commander of Training Unit, 15 year old Hero of Novorossiya
taken from here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D7dqk...
For those who are fed up with mass media. Latest news, latest footage on Ukraine Crisis, interviews from the locals, news from the battlefield. Get a complete picture of the crisis in Ukraine. Visit our channel at:
http://www.youtube.com/user/2014AntiM...
Ukraine Crisis: Latest News
http://youtu.be/18pCPHOOmIE
VIDEO
SOURCE:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2PRue-PvfUI
(Dead Link)
0:31
to 0:45
Rois: Me? Yes, I think I
got courage even though I’m afraid to die, but I am more worried about my
Motherland than about my own life. Fear of death is on a second place after
fear for my motherland.
0:51
to 0:59
Rois: We are now in a
sub-unit of the brigade Vostok. My call-name is Rois. I’m a Patriot. I am 15
years old.
1:00
to 1:14
Rois
(loading a magazine with bullets): What’s my responsibility? Large
responsibility. I’m giving to people kind of knowledge which they can’t get
anywhere else. They are going to the war. So, anything new they learn now,
that’s all they can use in military operation.
1:15
to 1:29
Rois
(loading his rifle with a magazine): First of all, I have to look after my team,
like you do with children. Have to bring them to dinner, arrange beds for guys
who arrive here. And of course I have to train them.
1:30
to 1:35
Rois
(walking away):
It’s not just how to handle a weapon, we also go to the training ground. And we
are training there to walk and to move.
1:37
to 2:13
Donbass Anthem in a remix.
2:14
to 3:21
17 year
old Soldier (right in balaclava): We used to have a club…something like a
military patriot society. And afterwards…our trainer came here and when he
settled in, he called us to join. He made us an offer so to say and we accepted
it, why not
Journalist: You didn’t meet
Andrey before, right?
Soldier
(left with balaclava): We did! We are from the same city – We studied in the
same school
Journalist:
Aha…so
all of you have been studying together. But Andrey is younger, right?
Rois: Yes…I came here with
my father, as volunteers. He came first and I join him a bit later.
Soldier
(left with balaclava): He’s two years younger than me and I didn’t expect at
all to meet him here. I came here with a friend of mine, that’s him. I was
totally surprised when I saw him here. Because boys, not even 18 (and he is 15
years old!) came here to fight. While there are 20 year old guys, who served in
the army and got good military experience but they are staying at home, hiding
in their basements during the shelling [2:46 to 3:10]
Journalist:
So,
you are staying in a casern here…but what do you do in your free time?
17 year
old Soldier (right in balaclava): We are doing chin ups… all kinds of sports.
Soldier
(left with balaclava): And just chilling out too.
3:22
to 4:14
Rois: There are lots of
interesting books about arms. Well, I’m still at school, I’d have holidays now.
So, I’d be outside whole day, playing football with friends. Doing things what
any teenager likes. But football goes first, I like it a lot. I was even
thinking about bringing my soccer ball here. To kick a ball in my free time…
Journalist:
Did
you bring it already?
Rois: No. I don’t have much
free time
Journalist:
Do
you feel sometimes that you miss your old life?
Rois: Yes of course. But
mostly in the evening when I’m finally in bed and can relax and think about
life. I thought that if I was 18 years old, I’d come here for sure, I wouldn’t
be killing anyone. But after my father came here, I asked him to get permission
for me to join too.
4:15
to 4:22
Rois
(walking next to his dad): Nobody wanted to take a minor…it took a very long time to
make all the arrangement. But finally, it went through, my father took me here
and I’m really happy!
4:23
to 5:03
Sergei
(Rois’s father): Guys
have a lot of respect for him because he is so young, but in a uniform and with
a gun and he’s training them. It doesn’t bother them at all. On the contrary:
it wins their hearts. It attracts them that someone is so young that shouldn’t
be fighting in a war yet but he’s here with weapons in his hands and he’s doing
something good here.
One more thing I like to add: we got
patriotic young guys who are ready to fight fascism with all their heart! I
have a lot of respect for them and I respect my son’s choice and I’m 100%
behind him.
5:04
to 5:26
Rois: My mother and
grandmothers would still prefer me to come back have a peaceful life, close to
them
Journalist:
And
what would you reply to them?
Rois: I’m going to tell
them that I’ll go back to this kind
of life after our victory, back to a quiet and peaceful life…together with
them. They shouldn’t worry.
5:27
to 6:13
Russian Song from WWII: Victory is all we
need.
6:14
to 6:46
Journalist:
What
do you think, is it difficult to kill a person?
Rois: I think it’s very
hard. What if this person isn’t evil, maybe he was forced to come here? Maybe he got a family back home, wife
and kids. But when they come here to kill our brothers and families, we don’t
have any other choice but to shoot them back. But it’s really hard, nobody
wants to do that.
6:47
to 7:16
Rois: I’m sure I’ll get
good memories for the future because after we win (and I’m sure about that)
then you can tell your friends where you’ve been…It won’t be dangerous anymore.
And you’ll have good memories and everyone will be proud of you that in such a
difficult situation, you didn’t leave the country and didn’t hide in a basement
but join your brothers to defend your land. But we’ll feel sorry for the people
who died in this meaningless war.
No comments:
Post a Comment