Putin unveils a secret weapon in the impending conflict in Ukraine – soldiers in lipstick

Russia has a battalion of female soldiers who are equipped with lipstick and nail polish. The country holds a beauty pageant that judges women on their looks as well as their skills on the battlefield

Vladimir Putin has unveiled a secret weapon in his impending conflict with Ukraine: female soldiers wearing lipstick and nail polish.

The Russian president's more than one million soldiers include up to 160,000 women who are encouraged to show their femininity. Putin's Defense Ministry even holds an annual beauty contest that judges them on their looks and battlefield skills.

At last year’s event, the female soldiers applied “all kinds of camouflage paint to their faces – stars, flags and bright colors among others.”

The women also participated in a biathlon, using AK-47s for the shooting stage.

Although Putin forbids his female soldiers from hand-to-hand combat on the frontline, they could provide key support roles during an invasion.

French President Emmanuel Macron is due to have a phone conversation with the Russian leader later today to avoid a conflict.

This comes after the United States rejected Putin's request to ban Ukraine from joining NATO. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said he would not budge on Ukraine's rights to sovereignty and would be part of security alliances.

The Belgorod is said to be twice the size of Royal Navy submarines and was specifically created to carry deadly Poseidon torpedoes.

Its designers gave it a stealthy design, despite its enormous size, and it is capable of navigating anywhere in the world.

The Poseidon torpedoes would have a nuclear tip and would be guided by an artificial intelligence capable of devastating the intended target.

Tensions are still simmering between Russia and Ukraine as the United States has rejected Russia's request to exclude its neighbor from NATO.

Fears are growing that Russia could invade Ukraine and install a government there.