In Simferopol, 2,000 children were recruited into Russian cadet programs

The occupation administration in Simferopol has enrolled about 2,000 schoolchildren in cadet classes. During classes and meetings with Russian military personnel, the children are subjected to hostile propaganda and prepared for future service in the occupying state’s army.

This was reported by the Crimean Tatar Resource Center, citing the occupation-controlled “Crimean Information Agency.”

Currently, 75 cadet classes have been established in 21 educational institutions across the city. In addition to regular classes at cadet schools, meetings with Russian military personnel—including those who participated in the full-scale war against Ukraine—are systematically organized for students.

The main goal of these classes is to draw children into the Russian system of military-patriotic education, the Crimean Tatar Resource Center noted. Through educational and training activities, the occupiers are attempting to instill loyalty to Russia in young people and are steering schoolchildren toward future service in the Russian army.

As noted by the Crimean Regional Center, Russian authorities have increased the number of cadet and “Cossack” classes in Crimeato 381 in 137 schools. A total of 8,516 children are enrolled in these classes. At the same time, militarized programs have begun to be implemented in kindergartens for children as young as five.

According to the Center for the Study of the Occupation, a pseudo-Cossack society is also being formed in the temporarily occupied territories of the Kherson region to work with youth. Currently, there are already more than 300 “Cossacks.” Now, there are plans to unite them into a separate organization, an official structure. 

Юлія Калабайда