Russia invests billions to militarize Ukrainian children

Russia annually allocates increasing funds for the militarization of children, particularly in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine. This was reported by the head of the Zaporizhzhia Regional Military Administration, Ivan Fedorov.

"Russia plans to spend billions of rubles on the militarization of children, increasing these amounts every year," he wrote.

The main areas of focus are:

• The development of the youth movement Yunarmiya to prepare personnel for Russian security forces;
• The creation of a network of military-patriotic centers where children will be taught military skills (one such center is being opened in the temporarily occupied Berdiansk);
• Involvement of children in political activities through the "Movement of the First" movement;
• Increasing the number of cadet classes in schools under the supervision of security forces.

The aim of these actions, according to the head of the regional military administration, is to form a generation ready to serve the interests of the Kremlin and follow orders without critical thinking.

"Ukrainian children's psyches are being broken in the temporarily occupied territories so that in 5-10 years, Russia will have an army ready to kill anyone on the orders of the Kremlin," wrote Fedorov.

• According to the Office of the President of Ukraine, about 1.6 million Ukrainian children are under Russian control—either deported or forced to live under occupation.