Breaking News: Russian Students Killed in Ukraine Conflict
Three young Russian men, recently recruited into the military, have been confirmed killed in Ukraine. Valery Averin, 23, was among the first known casualties from a new recruitment drive targeting university students for Russia’s drone forces. His foster mother, Oksana Afanayeva, expressed concern about his lack of military experience.
Averin had completed three months of drone training before being deployed. He called his mother in early April, saying he was heading to a location with no phone signal. A week later, on April 8, she learned he had died in a mortar strike near Luhansk.
Vladislav Gorbunov, 18, from Unecha, signed a military contract four months prior to his death on April 6. Initially sent to an infantry unit, he was later transferred to a drone operators’ unit.
Rakhim Abdullin, 18, had enrolled in a mining college but signed a military contract in January, believing it would be a safer option. He was killed on March 13.
These three are part of a larger group of over 230,000 Russian military deaths verified by the BBC. The actual death toll is believed to be significantly higher.
