Russia has staged a bizarre military beauty contest for its female troops amid the Ukraine invasion.
As Vladimir Putin’s forces move hardware and soldiers towards the war zone, the ‘Makeup under Camouflage’ contest was held back home.
Those involved included female troops from the country’s strategic missile forces.
A statement in military magazine Red Star said that “about 40 beauties took part”.
It added: “The first test for the participating teams was the application of combat makeup.”
The women soldiers were also expected to overcome a fire-assault zone in a mock war zone with radiation, chemical and biological threats wearing gas masks and special protection suits.
They were ordered to assemble and disassemble assault rifles, fire from a Kalashnikov AK-74, and throw grenades.
There was a “brain ring” where they were tested on general knowledge and they faced “creative and culinary” tests.
A report said: “Not all the participants are young women.
“One, Olga Kirillova, is already a granny – her daughter is 23, and grandson three.
“She serves at the Teykov division of the Strategic Missile Forces. She is excellent at shooting.”
It comes as Moscow continues to lose key figures within its military.
In a trickle of acknowledged deaths, a leading national guard military intelligence officer Major Andrey Burlakov and sergeant Vladimir Oreshko were both slain in Kherson.
Only a fraction of those who died – estimated in the thousands – have been named but Russia has now admitted to the deaths of three from a region in the far east of the country – Nikolay Kovalets, 22, Artyom Timchenko, 30, and Sergey Zozulenko, 27 – were killed thousands of miles from home.
All were based in Russia’s Jewish Autonomous Republic before being sent by train to fight in Ukraine, a distance of 5,000-plus miles.
Regional governor Rostislav Goldshtein said: “They died defending the interests of our Motherland.”
All five of the named dead troops have been awarded the Order of Courage.
Meanwhile, a woman survivor of Ukrainian fire was hailed for using her body to protect a wounded male soldier before removing him from the battlefield despite herself suffering shrapnel wounds in her selfless act.
Military paramedic ensign Ekaterina Ivanova – in her 30s – showed her bravery when they came under fire from “neo-Nazis” in Ukraine, according to the Russian defence ministry.
”Side by side with our male servicemen, representatives of the beautiful half of humanity also perform their military duty,” said a statement.
“From the first day of the special military operation, surgical paramedic ensign Ekaterina Ivanova selflessly assisted wounded soldiers and commanders.
“In a clash between our units and Ukrainian nationalists, Ekaterina, risking her life, carried the wounded from the battlefield.
“Having gathered a group of wounded, the paramedic proceeded to evacuate them to hospital
“On the way, the ambulance came under mortar fire from neo-Nazis.
“One of the enemy shells exploded next to the vehicle.”
She showed “courage” and covered the seriously wounded soldier with her body to protect him.
“Thanks to the selfless act of Ekaterina Ivanova, the life of the wounded was saved.
“Ekaterina herself received a shrapnel wound.
“The ambulance reached the hospital in time, where all the victims were treated.”