First Russian soldier born in 2008 killed in Ukraine war
Новая газета Европа • • world
Key Points:
- Journalists from BBC and Mediazona have confirmed the death of Alisher Svirin, the first known Russian soldier born in 2008 to be killed in the war in Ukraine.
- Svirin, aged 18, died on 1 May 2026 and served as a contract machine gunner in the 123rd Separate Guards Motorised Rifle Brigade.
- Due to his age, Svirin could not have been on the front lines for more than three months before his death.
- He was buried in the Moscow region on 28 May.
- Since the full-scale invasion, at least 200 Russian soldiers aged 18 have been reported killed in combat.