"Loyal putinists"

After the start of the full-scale war against Ukraine, Russian schools were given manuals for conducting thematic lessons about the goals of the so-called “special military operation”. Later, the schoolchildren were told about the impact of sanctions on the Russian economy — they explained that they are supposedly not terrible for Russia.

However, the military-patriotic organization Yunarmiya, founded in 2016 at the initiative of Russian Defence Minister Shoigu, has the greatest ideological influence on the younger generation. Children over eight years old can join it. Members of the organization are taught how to use weapons and conduct military training classes. But, most importantly, the ideology of the “Russian peace” is imposed on them.

The Kremlin tries to raise loyal citizens from an early age — children’s psyches are not yet fully formed, and it is easier for them to instil the necessary views.