Donetsk youth forced into intense war prep - NRC
Children in Russian military uniforms (Photo: Getty Images)
In the Donbas, Russian authorities are turning educational institutions into centers for military training of teenagers, disguising the lessons as youth development, according to the National Resistance Center.
Military-technical training in vocational schools
At the Donetsk Mining and Electromechanical Technical School, Russians are conducting military-technical classes for students.
Teenagers are being taught how to handle mock rifles, apply tourniquets, disassemble and assemble weapons, operate drones, and perform basic tactical maneuvers.
Formally, this is presented as a project supported by Rosmolodyozh Sport and youth development, but in reality, it goes beyond the educational process.
Systematic militarization of youth
According to the National Resistance Center, such training takes place in at least eight vocational schools in the occupied territories of the Donbas.
Supervisors are instructed to form a core of future instructors from the most disciplined students.
Analysts note that these activities create a long-term mobilization reserve starting from ages 15–17 and are part of the systematic militarization of the region.
Politicization of educational institutions
The use of pseudo-civic formations, such as volunteer squads, allows Russians to impose military discipline and home front rhetoric without direct responsibility for teaching.
Teenagers are forced to handle weapons and acquire military skills, instilling a sense of normality in a military environment.
The educational process in the occupied territories of the Donbas is being transformed into a tool to prepare youth for participation in armed operations.
These measures are systemic, undermine the educational content, and create a controlled mobilization reserve for Russia’s long-term objectives.
In the occupied areas of Luhansk and Donetsk, the number of stray dogs is increasing, and the situation is worsening to the point where aggressive packs are attacking people in broad daylight, posing a real threat to local safety.
Additionally, in the occupied part of the Luhansk region, the crisis of basic communal services is intensifying: residents lack water and heating, and any attempts to independently establish minimal amenities are being used by Russian authorities as a pretext for new fines.
