Russia plans to double youth military centers in occupied Ukrainian territories
Photo: Russian forces want to double the number of youth military centers (GettyImages)
Russian forces in temporarily controlled territories in Ukraine plan to significantly expand the number of militarized youth groups and centers for children. In particular, the number of so-called Yunarmiya centers is expected to double in 2025, reports the National Resistance Center of Ukraine (NRC).
According to the NRC, Russian forces aim to establish twice as many centers for the "Russian equivalent of the Hitler Youth" on the territories they control. These centers are part of the Yunarmiya program.
Additionally, the NRC reports that representatives of the occupation administrations intend to increase the presence of First Movement representatives and expand the network of militarized Warrior centers.
"In this way, the Russians are trying to take control of the activities of children and teenagers and integrate them into the Russian information space," the NRC emphasized.
Russians will further encourage members of these militarized movements to enroll in military academies, paving the way for their eventual enlistment in the Russian Armed Forces.
"The National Resistance Center urges residents to ignore enemy initiatives and instead report anyone aiding Russians in brainwashing children in temporarily occupied territories," the NRC stated.
In December, Dmytro Lubinets, Ukraine's Ombudsman for Human Rights, reported that Russian forces had recruited 40 Ukrainian children from Berdyansk, Zaporizhzhia region, into the Yunarmiya centers.
The Yunarmiya (youth military centers -ed.) is a Russian youth military-patriotic organization founded by the Russian Ministry of Defense in 2016. It targets children as young as eight. In addition to Russia, Yunarmiya branches operate in Armenia, Tajikistan, the unrecognized territory of Abkhazia, and the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine.
Reports about Russian forces recruiting children into the Yunarmiya in occupied areas date back to March 2023.
