Vladimir Putin faced humiliation when a girl, 11, confronted the dictator over how her uncle – wounded in the war – had been sent back to fight without being properly treated.
This happens frequently in the Russian forces when the sick and injured are forced into assault brigades without proper treatment.
Yet seldom is Putin confronted with cannon fodder cruelty of his forces.
Tragic Kira, 11, has already lost her mobilised father Vladimir Pimenov, 36, killed last year in the war in Donetsk region.
The schoolgirl did not reveal her painful bereavement to Putin in a meeting on Red Square in Moscow – but pleaded for her help to rescue her wounded uncle, 46, from his war hell.
‘My uncle is at the front now,’ she told the Russian ruler, who was surrounded by religious leaders.
‘He was wounded in the arm, he was in hospital.’
She told him bluntly: ‘They’re not treating him at all, and now they are sending him back on a mission [to fight].
Tragic Kira, 11, confronts Putin over wounded uncle, sent to fight in war despite after being refused medical treatment
The schoolgirl has already lost her mobilised father Vladimir Pimenov, 36, killed last year in the war in Donetsk region
Kira Pimenova, left, with her younger sister Anastasia, 7
‘I would like him to be transferred to a good hospital in Russia.’
Putin – appearing uncomfortable – told her: ‘We’ll definitely find him, all right?’
He did not promise to extract him from the frontline so he could be treated – and it remains to be seen if the dictator heeds the girl’s demand.
Kira, from Siberia, made sure he knew who to look for saying: ‘[His name is] Anton Fisyura.’
‘Certainly. Thank you for remembering him,’ said Putin.
He then kissed her on the head and moved swiftly on.
Her wounded uncle has two sons, aged nine and 18.
The girl has two other uncles fighting in the war, she said.
Putin kissed her on the head and moved swiftly on
Vladimir Pimenov, 36, Kira Pimenova’s late father with wife Viktoria
Vladimir Pimenov, 36, Kira Pimenova’s late father
Anton Fisyura, 46, Kira Pimenova’s uncle
Kira’s mother Viktoria Pimenova works as a lawyer for the Committee of Families of Warriors of the Fatherland.
Both Kira and her sister Anastasia, seven, were left fatherless by Putin’s war.
Her father was awarded the Order of Courage.
Kira gave Putin a Cheburashka – a Soviet-era toy with huge round ears – which she made.
‘I [also] knitted the Cheburashka toy for my uncle Anton, then for uncle Vanya and uncle Yura, who are now defending the Motherland,’ she said.
‘My toys will definitely bring them luck.’
