The article highlights the tragic fates of young Russian students recruited into drone units, who ultimately faced front-line combat. Valery Averin, a 23-year-old former student, was killed in a mortar strike just a week after learning he had been trained as a drone operator, despite his foster mother’s belief that the role was safe. Similarly, 18-year-old Vladislav Gorbunov and Rakhim Abdullin also died soon after signing military contracts, with the latter noting that drone units were not as safe as advertised and were placed on the front lines alongside assault troops. These young men are among a growing number of verified Russian military deaths, with the true toll believed to be significantly higher.
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Kyrylo Budanov, Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, has voiced strong opposition to mobilizing men between the ages of 18 and 25. He argues that such a measure, if implemented through the current mechanisms, risks “destroying the very future of our state, an entire generation.” This stance comes as Ukraine’s current mobilization applies to men aged 25 to 60, with an allowance for those aged 18 to 22 to leave the country made in August 2025. Budanov’s concerns are specifically related to the potential negative impact on the nation’s future demographic and workforce.
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On Saturday, May 9, 2026, President Vladimir Putin participated in ceremonies marking the 81st anniversary of the Soviet Union’s World War II victory over Nazi Germany. The event, held in Moscow, featured Putin laying flowers at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier near the Kremlin. This commemoration underscores the enduring significance of the war’s outcome in Russian national identity and memory.
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Two years after a former defence minister warned of a “death spiral” in recruitment, Canada’s military is experiencing an unprecedented surge in new members. This growth, reaching its highest numbers in three decades, coincides with increased defence spending, a rise in nationalism partly sparked by US President Donald Trump’s remarks, and improved military pay and job security. The recruitment boost also benefits from the inclusion of foreign nationals and permanent residents as eligible applicants.
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John Q. Hosedrinker