Kathrine Frich
The program was run by Russian veterans who had served in Ukraine.
The program was run by Russian veterans who had served in Ukraine.
Russian Children Put Through Military-Style Training
Footage has emerged from a Russian summer camp where children as young as eight were trained in army-style drills.
The exercises included route marches, crawling under fire, and even throwing grenades under the watch of veterans.
The camp has been described as part of a wider push to instill militarism at a young age.
Marches, Grenades and Dummy Shots
Videos shared online show children sprinting across sand, crawling through water, and firing dummy rounds.
Some wore camouflage while others carried weapons or replicas.
An eight-year-old boy told reporters he enjoyed throwing grenades and practicing with rifles.
Veterans Oversee the Drills
The program was run by Russian veterans who had served in Ukraine.
They argued that the training gave children discipline and confidence while teaching patriotism.
Organisers said the goal was to prepare the next generation for “service to the motherland.”
Cossack Cadet Groups Behind the Camps
The participants belonged to cadet groups run by Cossack organisations in Russia’s Rostov region, near the border with Ukraine.
Instructors praised the experience, saying it offered “knowledge and understanding” to the children.
Officials in Moscow have encouraged such initiatives as part of a wider patriotic education drive.
Critics Warn of Indoctrination
Children’s rights groups condemned the program as propaganda disguised as education.
The independent organisation Ne Norma said that teaching children to handle weapons and build drones is “indoctrination, not patriotism.”
Critics warn it normalises war and strips away childhood.
Children Speak of Duty and Sacrifice
Some children spoke with pride about taking part in the exercises.
One boy said he wanted to tie his future to military service and remain loyal to Russia “until the very end.”
Others described pushing their limits, with one teenager exclaiming after a march: “I nearly died, we made the run three times!”
