Over 50 Russian contract soldiers under the age of 20 have been killed in Ukraine since changes allowing 18-year-olds to sign military contracts
Since the introduction of a new law changing requirements for contract service eligibility, at least five Russians born in 2005 and 48 Russians born in 2004 have lost their lives in the war in Ukraine, according to open-source data collated by Mediazona and BBC News Russian.
In April 2023, the Russian State Duma approved amendments allowing 18-year-olds to sign contracts with the Russian Defense Ministry. Previously, Russians were required to complete a vocational program or serve several months as conscripts before being eligible to sign a contract.
BBC News Russian notes this means that 18-year-olds can join right out of high school and be sent to the front four weeks after enlistment. They will also be unable to terminate their contracts until the end of the war.
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