The number of movement participants reached 36 thousand
Russian occupation authorities have involved about 49 thousand minors from temporarily occupied Ukrainian territories in the ranks of Yunarmia, with the largest number recorded on the peninsula. Specifically, approximately 36 thousand children joined this militarized organization in Crimea and Sevastopol. This was reported by Ukrinform citing Center for Civil Education «Almenda», according to the portal PromPolitInform.
The total number of participants in the Russian Movement of the First in these territories has increased from 12 thousand in 2023 to 185 thousand at present. Such data was released by Mariya Sulyalina, head of the Center for Civil Education Almenda, during the conference Crimea in Focus: Human Rights, International Law and European Security held in the Parliament of the Czech Republic.
During the event, participants discussed political persecution, illegal detention of civilians, violations of the rights of the indigenous peoples of Crimea, and mechanisms for holding Russia accountable. Special attention was paid to the situation of children under occupation.
Militarization of preschool education
Representatives of the Center noted that militarization also covers preschool education. Children are forced to wear military uniforms, involved in military-patriotic events, and meetings are organized with Russian servicemen who participated in the so-called SMO.
Through such activities, Russia builds children’s loyalty to the aggressor state, attempts to change their Ukrainian identity, and normalizes the perception of war. Similar practices are part of a wide system of militarization of youth that invaders are building across occupied territories.
Photo: Ukrinform
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