The first death of a Russian woman released from prison by Vladimir Putin to fight against Ukraine has been announced after she was ‘mown down’ on the front lines.
Elena Pimonenkova, 37, had served a prison sentence for multiple offenses – including a knife attack on a man, carjacking, theft, damaging property and threatening murder – before being recruited by the Russian army.
The criminal reportedly died in Russia’s Belgorod war zone, but the circumstances remain unclear at this time.
Pimonenko was selected for Putin’s army from a penal colony in the Leningrad region, near St. Petersburg, and recruited in exchange for a reduced prison sentence.
When she was released, she had to serve another year in prison.
Elena Pimonenkova (pictured), 37, served a prison sentence for multiple offenses – including a knife attack on a man, carjacking, robbery, damaging property and threatening to kill – before being recruited by the Russian army
Pimonenkova reportedly died in Russia’s Belgorod war zone, but the circumstances remain unclear at this time
Pimonenko was selected for Putin’s army from a penal colony in the Leningrad region, near St. Petersburg, and recruited in exchange for a reduced prison sentence
Her relatives have been told she was mown down by a car close to the front line, but say they do not believe the official story of her death.
Her mother received a call the day before her death from an unknown man who told her that he would “deal with Elena and rid her of bad habits.”
Putin has reportedly slowed or halted the recruitment of female convicts.
It started in February this year when Pimonenkova was one of ten selected by the Russian Ministry of Defense from among sixty female candidates.
According to Russian news site 47news.ru, the ministry is no longer recruiting female prisoners on the same scale, despite stepping up efforts to fill its ranks with men as cannon fodder for its war.
It follows reports that at least six people have been killed in Sumy, northeastern Ukraine, following a Russian attack on a medical center.
Ukraine’s air force said it shot down 69 of 73 drones fired from Russia overnight. At least fifteen drones were intercepted in the outskirts of Kiev.
Keir Starmer used his first speech to the United Nations Security Council to ask Putin’s representative how he dared to show his face at the UN.
He said the illegal invasion had caused “colossal human suffering”: 35,000 victims, 6 million people forced to flee and nearly 20,000 Ukrainian children “kidnapped.”
At least six people have been killed in Sumy, northeastern Ukraine, after a Russian attack on a medical center
Searchlights in the Ukrainian capital. Ukraine’s air force said it shot down 69 of 73 drones fired from Russia overnight. At least fifteen drones were intercepted in the outskirts of Kiev
Sir Keir is also expected to hold talks with Volodymyr Zelensky at the meeting of world leaders in New York, as Ukraine’s president prepares to present his ‘victory plan’ to end the war at a crucial meeting at the White House tomorrow.
The Prime Minister told the Security Council, where Russia has a permanent seat: ‘Six hundred thousand Russian soldiers have also been killed or wounded in this war. And for what?
‘The UN Charter – which they are here to uphold – speaks about human dignity. Don’t treat your own burgers like pieces of meat that you throw into the grinder.’
He said the war had also created a “global energy crisis and a global food security crisis,” while Russia was now deepening its military ties with North Korea and Iran.
With Russia’s deputy UN representative Dmitry Polyanskiy present in the room, the prime minister insisted: “Aggression cannot pay. Borders cannot be redrawn by force. Russia started this illegal war. It must end it – and leave Ukraine.