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Boys can join the Russian Youth Army from the age of eight.
At the Museum of the Battle of Stalingrad in Volgograd, Russia, dozens of children and youth stand in a circle to take the oath of allegiance to the Youth Army (Junarmiya). The Hall of Triumph is made entirely of white marble and decorated with symbols of the Red Army. “Do you swear eternal loyalty to the motherland?” a group leader asks the children in their beige trousers and red caps. “I swear,” they all reply in unison.
Patriotic education has been on the rise in Russia for years, but it has become even more important since the Kremlin sent troops to Ukraine almost a year ago. According to the Youth Army’s website, more than 1.2 million children and young people between the ages of eight and 18 have joined the movement since it was founded by Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu (67) in 2016 – “to get young people to support Russia with the To defend gun in hand », it was said at the time.
There are already over 85 regional centers. According to their own statements, they were already represented in every school in the country in 2020, where they have their own rooms. These must have a picture of President Vladimir Putin (70), the Russian flag, maps and a selection of small arms.
Yunarmiya has parallels with Soviet movements
The Youth Army puts an emphasis on the memory of the victory of the Soviet Army over the Wehrmacht. In Volgograd – formerly Stalingrad – the commemoration of the 200-day battle between the Red Army and German soldiers has become a central element of Russian patriotism. February 2nd marks the 80th anniversary of the Soviet victory in Stalingrad. The youth army is also often described as Russia’s new version of the Soviet pioneer and Komsomol movement for the 21st century – albeit with different uniforms and a chic presence on the online networks.
Some parents watch as their children swear allegiance in front of politicians, war veterans and local youth army leaders. 31-year-old Darya Chertkova says her 12-year-old son Stanislav made the “conscious decision” to join the movement all by himself. “We supported that,” she tells AFP.
The family has always been patriotic and interested in the past, she explains. But now Moscow’s offensive in Ukraine and its consequences have motivated her to go one step further. “Stanislav knows about the special military operation,” says Chertkova, using the official Russian name for the offensive in the neighboring country. “His decision was partly influenced by what’s happening in the world.” She hopes that her six-year-old son will also join the movement. “I think the most important thing for a boy is to love our country, to defend his motherland, to be a patriot.” (AFP/chs)
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