Kathrine Frich
Leaders in Moscow know they do not need to openly push war propaganda on their young foreign visitors.
Summer camps usually mean outdoor sports, craft projects, and making lifelong friends around a fire.
But sometimes a foreign government pays for the trip just to shape how the next generation sees the world. A peaceful holiday can easily double as a quiet political tool.
A different kind of holiday
According to United24 Media, officials in Moscow have spent years building a massive network of youth programs. This summer, they invited teenagers from 13 different nations to a state-run facility called the Ocean children’s center.
The sprawling complex sits on the coast of Vladivostok in Russia’s Far East. Organizers hosted 140 foreign students from countries like Canada, Australia, France, China, and Egypt for a three-week session.
These visiting teenagers experienced a highly curated version of local culture. They learned traditional folk dances, practiced speaking Russian, and attended special hospitality events where staff greeted them with bread and salt.
Drones and combat skills
Domestic students at the facility face a completely different daily schedule. While foreign guests focus on art and friendship, local teenagers are actively preparing for modern warfare.
The camp runs a specialized training course focused entirely on unmanned aerial vehicles. Russian children spend their days flying virtual combat simulators, navigating obstacle courses, and building actual drones.
This intense military focus goes far beyond a single coastal facility. Before it closed earlier this year, the infamous Artek camp in occupied Crimea even arranged official meetings between visiting international teenagers and armed mercenary fighters.
Winning young minds
Leaders in Moscow know they do not need to openly push war propaganda on their young foreign visitors. The goal is much simpler. They just want to make the country look normal, welcoming, and deeply cultured to outsiders.
Building long-term loyalty starts by offering a fun and memorable summer vacation. The camp organizers use the language of global unity to mask the reality of their aggressive foreign policy.
“At Ocean, borders disappear. What matters here is not which country you come from, but whether you are ready to make friends, discover something new, and share your warmth,” the center states in its promotional materials.
Sources: United24 Media
