Russian Orthodox Church turns Crimea scouts into soldiers
Photo: Russian Church turns scouts into soldiers in occupied Crimea (Getty Images)
In occupied Crimea, the Russian Orthodox Church has intensified its activities to ideologically influence children and youth, according to the Center for Countering Disinformation.
Recently, at the International Children’s Center Artek, which is under sanctions by the Ukrainian National Security and Defense Council for propaganda activities, the youth forum Istoki took place.
The event was attended by 160 students from theological academies and seminaries across Russia. During the forum, the presentation of the Brotherhood of Orthodox Scouts took place – a Russian Orthodox Church scout organization operating on the peninsula since 2022.
According to the Center for Countering Disinformation, the organization is part of a system of ideological conditioning aimed at militarizing children.
In addition to classic scouting skills – survival in the wild, navigation, teamwork – participants are taught to use weapons. The brotherhood's uniform is often styled in a military fashion.
The organization’s rhetoric is openly militant: children are instilled with the idea that "heroic deeds," "protecting the weak," and "serving the homeland" are inevitably linked to armed struggle.
The Center for Countering Disinformation notes that under the guise of education and spiritual values, the Kremlin, through the Russian Orthodox Church, is preparing children for service to the regime.
It is worth recalling that on August 3, the Center for Countering Disinformation debunked Russian fakes claiming that Ukraine allegedly does not evacuate its citizens from neutral territories, including prisoners of war and former inmates.
In addition, the Russian regime plans to continue its disinformation campaign aimed at discrediting the exchange processes with Ukraine. The Defense Forces have the relevant information.
