Russian children — some as young as eight — have been filmed learning how to throw hand grenades and handle rifles at a summer camp aimed at preparing the next generation for military service.
The camp, held in the Rostov region near the Ukrainian border, was supervised by soldiers who previously fought in Russia’s war in Ukraine. Footage from the program showed young boys and girls dressed in camouflage uniforms, carrying what appeared to be real rifles, and taking part in army-style drills.
Eight-year-old Ivan Glushchenko, one of the participants, said his favorite part of the camp was weapons training. “We threw hand grenades and fired dummy shots,” he said excitedly.
Around 83 children, aged between 8 and 17, took part in the exercises, which included a “route march” along the River Don. The grueling task saw campers running, crawling across sand, and wading through shallow water while carrying weapons.
“I nearly died!” one teenage girl exclaimed after the drill, while another said she and her friends had to repeat the march three times.
Some participants, however, described the camp as a test of strength and discipline. “It allowed me to find out how strong my willpower is,” said a boy named David.
One of the instructors, Alexander Shopin — a veteran wounded in Ukraine who is still awaiting surgery — even brought his own daughter to join the training. “I like it – to pass my experience to the children. You can see how a family is forged out of them,” he said, adding that his daughter enjoyed the teamwork despite the difficulty.
The initiative is part of what Kremlin officials describe as “patriotic training,” a wider push by President Vladimir Putin to instill military values and loyalty in Russian youth.
Instructor Vladimir Yanenko defended the camp, saying it keeps children out of trouble: “They don’t want to hang out in back alleyways. It’s much more fun for them here.”
For some of the older teenagers, the camp represents a first step toward a military career. “Why I am here? It’s because I want to tie my future with military service. To serve my country and be loyal to my cause until the very end,” said 17-year-old Anton.
See video below.