Unique recruitment methods: In Russia, a commander executed a draftee who refused to sign a contract.

A 19-year-old conscript was shot at a training ground in Russia. Preliminary reports suggest this occurred due to the deceased's refusal to sign a contract and go fight against Ukraine. The conscript, along with other soldiers, was slated to be sent to the Kursk region, where Russian forces have been suffering significant losses during their attempts to advance and storm positions.

This information was reported by the Russian opposition publication "Important Stories" on Telegram. According to their sources, the incident took place on the afternoon of October 21 at the "Ilinsky" training ground in Primorsky Krai. One of the officers from the 394th Motorized Rifle Regiment opened fire indiscriminately with an AK-12 assault rifle at a formation of new recruits. A bullet struck 19-year-old Artem Antonov from Tatarstan in the head.

As noted, the training ground is not an easy one: it was used to prepare conscripts for deployment to the border with Ukraine. Officers systematically force soldiers to sign contracts, as it is legally prohibited in Russia to deploy conscripts to the war against Ukraine. A relative of the fallen soldier stated to the publication that Antonov might have been shot as a demonstration for refusing to sign the contract.

Additionally, relatives of the deceased soldier told journalists that commanders had tormented the conscript in an attempt to coerce him into signing the contract. Specifically, they beat him with iron rods on his arms and neck. This was corroborated after an examination of the body, which revealed not only a bullet wound but also numerous bruises.

Kursk Operation: What the Ukrainian Armed Forces Say

Recall that the Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Oleksandr Syrskyi, previously commented on the casualties of Ukrainian forces during the operation in Kursk. According to him, Ukrainian losses over the three months of the operation were half as much compared to Russian losses.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian troops are required to hold territories in the Kursk region until January 20, 2025 – the date when Donald Trump will become the President of the United States. Ukraine plans to use the territories in Kursk, which it has captured since August, in negotiations. The Russians, on the other hand, aim to push the Ukrainian Armed Forces out of there – and also hope to do so by January 20.

In the meantime, among the North Korean military personnel deployed to the Kursk region of Russia, discontent has emerged due to poor rations. The "allies" of the occupiers are complaining about the insufficient amount of food allocated to them by the Russians. To resolve the issue, a whole Russian general and his personal presence were required.