““Previously, the Kremlin used military and sports camps “Avangard” to accustom Ukrainian youth to Russian cultural and historical narratives””, — write: www.radiosvoboda.org
Analysts note that Putin approved a list of four instructions from the Russian government dated December 20, which contain orders about the following:
- creation and development of a network of “military sports camps” to promote the recruitment of young people for military service;
- expand the Kremlin’s “Roads to Victory” program;
- to create an online platform for the organization of military-patriotic education programs for Russian youth;
- transfer one children’s “health camp” to a year-round regime.
The Kremlin program “Roads of Victory” is aimed at “raising patriotic feelings in modern children and youth” and provides free excursions to Russian cultural and historical places of “battle glory” for Russian children and youth.
“The Kremlin has previously used the Vanguard military sports camps to militarize and indoctrinate Ukrainian youth into Russian cultural and historical narratives, and appears to be expanding its network of such and similar camps across Russia as part of its long-term military-building efforts,” it said. in the report.
ISW recalls that Putin has declared 2025 “the year of the defender of the Fatherland”, indicating that he intends to orient Russia’s political and ideological priorities for 2025 around Russian veterans and the further militarization of Russian society.
“The Kremlin likely intends to use these military-political organizations to encourage and raise the prestige of military service among Russian youth and society as the Kremlin continues to plan its long-term military actions in Ukraine and possible future armed conflicts with Western countries,” the analysts summarized.
In September, British intelligence reported that with the beginning of the school year, a new military training module was introduced throughout Russia, which is likely to lead to the formation of a more militarized and security-oriented society. In addition, the number of summer children’s camps, which are engaged in various types of military activities, is increasing.