Kremlin escalates militarization of youth: new plans for children and teenagers in Russia
In Russia, a large-scale program aimed at intensifying military preparedness among youth, including children and teenagers, is underway.
Recent reports from the Center for Countering Disinformation reveal that during a recent congress of the ‘First Movement,’ leader Artur Orlov announced an ambitious plan to significantly increase the number of participants in this paramilitary organization.
By 2030, its membership is expected to grow from the current 12.5 million to an astonishing 18 million.
This means that almost every second Russian citizen aged 6 to 25 will soon be affiliated with this extensive network designed for propaganda and patriotic military education.
Established in 2022 as a modern analogue to Soviet pioneer movements, the organization is actively expanding its infrastructure—plans include increasing primary units from 51,000 to 78,000 and tripling the number of mentors to over five million.
Mentors can be educators, students, or veterans of the conflict against Ukraine.
Experts warn that these measures are deliberate efforts by the Kremlin to cultivate generations bred in hatred towards Ukraine and the West, preparing youth for military participation from a young age.
Previously, the National Resistance Center reported that on temporarily occupied Ukrainian territories, particularly in Melitopol, Russian forces launched a militarization program for children called ‘Serving the Fatherland,’ aimed at training young people for future service in the Russian army and consolidating influence among teenagers and children in the region.