Russia, Belarus turning children into obedient mobilization resources – intelligence

That is according to Ukraine's Foreign Intelligence Service, Ukrinform reports.

The agency said that Russia's Rosmolodezh plans to spend 95.6 million rubles on a chatbot platform aimed at the "spiritual and moral development" of young people. According to the intelligence service, the project's technical specifications openly mention monitoring "thematic trends," collecting data on "behavioral patterns," and encouraging political engagement.

"In simple terms, this is digital surveillance of their own children," the statement said.

At the same time, the Kremlin is promoting the concept of "historical enlightenment" across Russian regions, from kindergartens to universities. Children are being required to attend events dedicated to World War II and "defenders of Russia," a category that now officially includes participants in the war against Ukraine.

Student "cyber squads" will also monitor their peers for signs of "destructive ideology" – apparently meaning any opinion outside officially approved views, the intelligence agency said.

"The ideology is reinforced through military-style drills," the statement said.

Since September 2023, military training camps have become a mandatory part of the Russian school curriculum. Tenth-grade students spend five days at the camps, while eighth graders attend for three days. The training includes shooting practice, drone operations, and drill exercises.

According to students who have already participated, recruiters attempted to persuade them during the camps to join the military or enroll in military academies.

Over the past five years, Russia has invested more than 50 billion rubles into the system. The Foreign Intelligence Service noted that the same amount of money could have been used to build 50 schools, 166 swimming pools, 370 sports complexes, and more than 3,800 playgrounds.

"Instead, they chose something else," the statement said.

The agency added that analysts and scholars are increasingly describing developments in Russia as resembling a fascist-style society.

According to Ukrainian intelligence, Belarus is following the same path, though slightly behind Russia. This year, field training camps for tenth graders were extended from five to ten days. Officials reportedly want students to remain at the camps around the clock, without being allowed to return home after classes.

Participation is mandatory, as students who refuse to attend will not receive certification in the subject "pre-conscription and medical training." Parents will also be required to cover the cost of attendance, estimated at 20-30 rubles per day, or about 90 euros for the full training period.

"These practices were borrowed from Russia, where child militarization gained momentum earlier. The goal is the same: to eliminate the problem of disloyal youth and create the most compliant possible mobilization reserve. Children are being prepared for unquestioning obedience to orders and convinced that Belarus is a fortress under siege. The risk that they may later be used in Russia's interests is no longer being hidden," the agency concluded.