Yevgeny Pushkaryov was just 18 years of age when he was killed in eastern Ukraine fighting as a volunteer with pro-Russian rebels.
I just read the heart wrenching story of Yevgeny Pushkaryov, 18, from Kronshtadt, Russia, who became enamored with the footage and videos shown on Russian television. He left his mother a note and joined the Russian separatists in East Ukraine. When he was killed, the separatists didn’t even return his body. Now his mother grieves and Russia does nothing for his family.
‘He Was Just A Boy’ — Russian Mother Grieves For Son Killed In Ukraine is the story of a young man who joined a military youth club, watched war movies and went off to pursue his dream, never to return.
Yevgeny had an account on VKontakte, Russia’s Facebook clone, and joined two pro-Rebel groups. He had been recruited by Russia in their quest to take land from a neighboring country.
Russia separatist commanders reneged on their word, forcing Yevgeny’s mother to arrange transportation for his body on her own. She is not wealthy, so she crowdsourced the funds needed to return his body.
In my opinion she is lucky Yevgeny’s body was not dumped down a coal mine shaft. She is lucky he is not in a mass grave. She is lucky his body was not burned into an unrecognizable mass.
Thousands of Russians. Not recognized by the Russian government.
Yes, this is how many Russians are treated after being killed by the Ukrainians defending their country. This is how Putin’s dreams are pursued, at the expense of malleable boys. Volunteering and assigned the most terrible job.
Stopping bullets.
Filed under: Information operations, Russia, Ukraine
