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1/ Military recruiters have reportedly urged 15-year-old schoolchildren in the city of Vladimir, 200 km east of Russia, to sign contracts to join the Russian army so that they can go and "fuck Ukrainians". ⬇️ 
2/ The Vladimir-based Telegram channel Dovod3 ('Argument') reports that Vladimir's School No. 37 recently held a 'Recruit's Day' for 10th graders.
3/ "The children were told about chemical protection, first aid at the front, sappers, as well as being shown weapons, helmets and flak jackets, after which they were strongly advised to go to war under contract, reports a reader of Dovod."
4/ "The schoolchildren were led around the stadium from one 'station' to another. Each such station had a different 'lecture' theme. Some of them had symbols of the Wagner private military company."
5/ At the 'contract service' station, the tenth-graders were persuaded that the military service awaiting them should be immediately replaced with contract service, and one of the speakers urged the students to 'fuck the khokols [a derogatory term for Ukrainians]'."
6/ This episode is notable for targeting children who are well under the normal recruitment age. Conscription in Russia is a 12-month draft, which is mandatory (with exceptions) for all male citizens ages 18–27. The lower age limit for voluntary service also starts at 18.
7/ In 2022, however, Putin signed a law scrapping the upper age limit for voluntary and mobilised soldiers. Soldiers are now expected to be of 'normal working age' (i.e. between 18 and about 60 years old). This compares to upper age limits in the 30s in the US and UK.
8/ The new approach to upper age limits was almost certainly a response to manpower shortages resulting from Russia's huge losses in Ukraine. With manpower still in short supply, it's possible that the Russian military may now be looking at lowering age limits as well.
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