Slava Novorossiya

Slava Novorossiya

Thursday, December 11, 2014

CHILD SOLDIERS IN THE UNITED ARMED FORCES OF NOVOROSSIYA


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:


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

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.

Two men sitting

 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

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/)




07.29.2014 at 14:39 | updated on 08/26/2014 at 15:35

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.

Airport Train jerk journey towards Moscow's Domodedovo airport. We design a graph with the future. The bottom of the stomach feel a little tension, even if the recent finding that insurgent-dominated city of Donetsk region is peaceful.
 
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.

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.
 

First, head to the People's Republic of the heart. Image We drive räpsäyttää photo rebels taken over the management of the building. One of the entrance patrolled by the gunmen approaching us. If the image is not removed, the threat of confiscation of the phone.
 
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

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.


Sergei, Royce’s father

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.
 

The human killing, he must be really difficult, because the enemy is not necessarily a bad.

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.




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
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."
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."





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:

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Ukraine Crisis: Latest News

http://youtu.be/18pCPHOOmIE

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. 


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