Elena is a grieving mother who is searching for answers about her son Valentin’s death. He was just 18 years old when he was killed while serving in the military. In her quest for understanding, she even reached out to Russian President Vladimir Putin, asking why her son was sent to fight in a war.
Valentin was a conscript, and the Russian government had promised that young soldiers like him would not be sent into combat. But the reality was different when he was deployed to the Kursk region, stationed near the border. In August, Ukrainian forces launched an incursion, and just a month later, Valentin died from a shrapnel wound to the head.
Elena expressed her disbelief, saying, "It should be specially trained people there, not children." She feels that young men like her son were taken from their homes and placed in dangerous situations without proper preparation. "What kind of warrior is he? He’s not a warrior," she lamented.
Despite the Kremlin’s portrayal of fallen soldiers as heroes, Elena is left with questions and pain. She wrote to Putin asking, "What were our children doing there?" but received no response. Her grief is compounded by the thoughts of what could have been, including the grandchildren she will never have.
Valentin was just weeks away from his 19th birthday when he died. He had been excited to serve in the military, even though Elena had hoped he would wait until after further studies. His blue beret and pictures in his parade uniform fill their home in Rybinsk, a town northeast of Moscow.
Elena visits Valentin’s grave, located in a military cemetery where many young soldiers are buried. She hopes that by speaking out, she can prevent other mothers from experiencing the same heartbreak. "I want only one thing – for all children to come home," she said. "I want them to hear us and give us back our children in the same state we gave them, not cold."
The war in Ukraine has taken a heavy toll, with estimates suggesting that over 750,000 Russian troops have been killed or wounded since the conflict escalated. Elena’s story is a reminder of the personal tragedies behind these statistics, highlighting the human cost of war and the grief that families endure.