Kathrine Frich
These caricatures paint the West as childish, clueless, or weak.
These caricatures paint the West as childish, clueless, or weak.
Targeting Toddlers with Cartoons
Vladimir Putin’s propaganda playbook has taken a disturbing new turn — into the nursery.
A new animated series called Sandpit features toddler versions of world leaders, including Putin, Trump, Elon Musk, and Kim Jong-un, in a bizarre attempt to indoctrinate Russian children “as early as possible.”
‘Sandpit’: Geopolitics in the Crib
The show, spearheaded by Putin’s top propagandist Vladimir Solovyov, aims to instill patriotism from infancy.
In the trailer, toddler versions of global leaders chat via video call, tossing around playground insults wrapped in political jabs.
One standout moment? Kim Jong-un mocks French President Emmanuel Macron, saying: “You’re always with your grandma,” a dig at Macron’s older wife, Brigitte.
Baby Trump, Macron & Musk: All Played for Laughs
While baby Putin is portrayed as calm, wise, and martial (complete with judo gi and teddy bear), his counterparts aren’t so lucky.
Trump lounges in a gaudy playroom, Musk obsessively plays with a toy Tesla, and Macron cries over a puzzle.
These caricatures paint the West as childish, clueless, or weak — while Putin’s avatar radiates poise and power.
Cartoon Symbols: Bears, Missiles and Fake Emails
Each character in Sandpit has a loaded symbol: Putin is linked with a red-star bear, Trump with a pope blessing, and Kim with a mushroom cloud.
Even their email addresses add to the satire — Kim’s is “BigBadaBoom@pyongyang.kp” and Erdogan’s reads “LuxuryTurkey@booking.com.”
Expert Warning: “This Is Indoctrination Before They Can Walk”
Dr. Alasdair McCallum, a propaganda expert at Monash University, says the show represents a new low.
“It’s AI-generated propaganda for preschoolers,” he says. “The goal is clear: build loyalty before kids can even talk.”
He adds that these shows may seem silly, but the messaging is far from harmless.
Kids in Camo: Russia’s Militant Childhood
The cartoon is just one piece of a wider strategy. At Victory Day parades, babies are dressed in military gear and paraded in tank-shaped prams.
Schoolchildren wear gas masks and handle rifles.
Youth groups like Yunarmiya teach discipline, patriotism — and the glory of dying for the Motherland.
Mother Russia: Girls Pushed Into Early Motherhood
While boys are groomed for war, girls are nudged toward motherhood.
State TV now promotes teen pregnancy shows like Mama at 16, rebranded from Pregnant at 16 to make early motherhood appear noble and patriotic.
Some regions even pay teenage girls as much as £1,000 to have babies.
Solovyov: The Voice Behind the Curtain
Vladimir Solovyov, a fiery Kremlin loyalist and TV host, is behind Sandpit.
Sanctioned by the EU, he’s long promoted war with the West and routinely calls for missile strikes on European capitals.
Yet his own eight children — educated abroad — are unlikely to ever wear a uniform.
Rewriting History, One Schoolbook at a Time
In Russian classrooms, weekly lessons titled “Conversations About Important Things” teach children that dying for Russia is honorable.
New history textbooks glorify Stalin and paint Ukraine as a Nazi state.
Putin’s narrative? Russia is the sole savior against Western evil.
Indoctrination as National Strategy
Experts say the Kremlin’s goal is to raise a new generation of unthinking patriots.
Dr. Maxim Alyukov of King’s College explains: “Putin sees kids as potential threats. Shaping their views early makes them less likely to question his regime later.”
Censorship and repression are often justified “in the name of protecting children.”
The Real Target: Russia’s Future Soldiers
With over one million Russian casualties since 2022, the Kremlin needs fresh recruits.
This propaganda blitz, experts argue, is about creating loyalty young and replenishing its dwindling war machine.
As Dr. McCallum bluntly puts it, “This is recruitment disguised as children’s entertainment.”
Resistance Grows, Quietly
Despite the Kremlin’s grip, not all Russians are buying it. Over 85% of the population now has internet access, and platforms like YouTube and Telegram remain popular.
VPN usage is widespread. Still, dissent is dangerous — more than 500 teens have been arrested for anti-war protests since 2022.
