Some parents would gasp at the thought of their children playing with a toy gun, but these Russian children are actually encouraged to take up real arms. Military sports club, ‘Berkut’, (meaning golden eagle), trains up tiny Vlads and Boris’, who dream of joining the elite units of the Russian army and fighting under the command of President Vladimir Putin. Pictured on their website brandishing a hand gun, is a young boy, dressed in military fatigues with his finger over the trigger. Children as young a five are sent on forced marches, given battlefield training, taught hand to hand combat, and how to use military equipment. 12 year olds are also taught to fire Kalashnikov assault rifles and other small arms. During the clubs regular camps some children are given the opportunity to parachute jump during their paratrooper training. The club based in Zhukovsky, Russia, claims to provide military training designed to develop the younger generation of the “motherland” - a term synonymous with the former Soviet Union and the communist rule of the last century.
STARING open-mouthed into the camera, this shocked fish looks out of place in the middle of its angry friends .
PERCHING on top of a gate, this young barn swallow waits patiently for his mum to return with dinner .
Hot on the heels of a little rabbit, this cheetah is on a mission to catch his prey .
A couple from Bristol have told that they are often mistaken for father and daughter because of their huge 36 year age gap .
SWIMMING in unison, millions of silverside fish dwarf the divers .
The Royal Mail moggy, who is now facing eviction from the premises – MEET the Royal Mail moggy facing eviction from the sorting room by an ‘elf n’ safety diktat .
A little boy was left fighting for his life in hospital after a horrific allergic reaction to epilepsy medication made his skin fall off in chunks .
More weather chaos is heading our way, with ice and snow already hitting areas across Birmingham .
AN EXERCISING turtle and an ice-skating chick are hardly everyday exploits in the animal community .
A young orangutan comes over all shy as she hides her face behind a broken bucket .
Armed with a snorkel, flippers and her skimpy bikini, an intrepid female free diver swims alongside an array of reef sharks .
Playing, splashing and generally messing around, these polar bears show they certainly have a soft spot for the water, and not just each other .