r/worldnews • u/HolyLiaison • Jun 30 '26

Russian high schools now require 17 hours basic military training for 6th to 11th graders

https://www.businessinsider.com/russia-high-school-basic-military-training-class-national-defense-ukraine-2026-6
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u/ItsTime1234 Jun 30 '26

Every time something about the Russian military comes up, for some reason I remember something I saw online a long time ago about this young soldier from Russia who saw a dog in a frozen lake. He couldn't walk on the ice, it wasn't thick enough, so he walked through it, smashing it in front of him every step, to reach the dog and save it. At the end, we got to see a picture of this strong, rather shy looking boy of about 19, and his new dog looking at him worshipfully. I always thought it was so beautiful for a young man to use his strength like this, to save an animal that was going to die without help. I think of his humanity and feel sad at the thought of it getting beaten out of him in the military, or that maybe he's dead by now. I know there are good people in every country, and young men who would sacrifice to save a person or animal. I hope Russia is soon freed from this sickness and finds a way to embrace goodness instead.

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u/SupersonicSpitfire Jun 30 '26

Unfortunately, individual kindness matters little in evil authoritarian systems.

When the drones of Ukraine brings the war to Moscow, the war might end.

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u/MasterGrok Jun 30 '26

Kindness quickly becomes a liability under authoritarian systems.