**Russia Expands Military Education Programs for Youth**
Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered new directives to expand military-patriotic education programs across Russia and occupied Ukraine. This move is part of a long-term strategy by the Kremlin to prepare youth for war.
These programs have been increasing since 2005, but escalated after Russia annexed Crimea in 2014. In Ukraine, they aim to make young people loyal to Russia by teaching them that military service is honorable and promoting Russian identity.
Putin has approved four key instructions to develop “military-sports camps” and expand youth indoctrination initiatives. The Kremlin’s Roads of Victory program will be expanded to offer free trips to sites considered important in Russian history. This will help promote patriotic feelings among young people.
**Russian Youth Programs**
The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) says that Russia has used military training camps like Avangard to militarize and indoctrinate Ukrainian youth into Russian cultural and historical narratives. These efforts are intensifying as part of Russia’s long-term plan to generate forces for future wars.
Putin’s declaration of 2025 as the Year of the Defender of the Fatherland is a sign of this broader push to militarize Russian society. The ISW notes that this initiative coincides with the expansion of youth organizations like Yunarmiya and Movement of the First, which aim to promote military values among young people.
**Russia’s Long-term Plan**
The ISW reports that these measures indicate the Kremlin’s intention to encourage and elevate the prestige of military service among Russian youth and society. This is part of a long-term plan for war in Ukraine and possible future conflicts with Western countries.
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