Russian abduction of children in a time of war is nothing new! One of the more disturbing features of the current war in Ukraine has been Russia’s abduction of Ukrainian children, ostensibly in order to give them ‘better lives’ in Russia. In some cases the children have been sent to so called ‘Summer Camps’ from […]
Category: Russian army
Prisoners at War
Prisoners are being used to replenish Russia’s depleted forces in Ukraine. A week or so ago prison wagons were seen approaching the border, and on Twitter a film showed prisoners being promised freedom if they fought at the front for six months. This is nothing new. In World War Two, prisoners from the Gulag were […]
Count chickens in the autumn
It has been reported that at the time of the invasion of Ukraine, Russia had already issued a medal to reward soldiers participating in the anticipated fall of Kiev. The shiny badge is illustrated here. Moreover, some troops, presumably elite regiments, involved in the ill-fated expedition, were ordered to pack parade uniforms for anticipated victory […]
War games
The Russian army is rightly preoccupying people at present. When preparing for the first live talk I have given for quite a long time, I was trying to find a better image to illustrate Peter the Great’s ‘play regiments’. I came across this bright 17th century woodcut, the illustration from a book. I think the figure […]