In Vladimir Putin‘s ruthless war, there are no rules, no limits, and no holidays for the children who are being forced to make deadly grenades.
Putin has millions of men and women fighting against Ukraine, and thousands have perished. He has also set his sights on the innocent children of his country to help keep the war afloat.
Since the Russo-Ukrainian bloodshed began, Putin has put in place what is described as “Soviet-style labor classes,” where pupils are deployed to make war material for his frontline troops.
According to Russian television, Putin has young students making war materials, including pre-made plastic orange “tails” to attach to grenades dropped from Russian drones.
Experts say these “tails are essential in enabling the grenades to hit Ukrainian targets more accurately.”
A disturbing and heartbroken television report from the Russian region of Tatarstan showed a group of schoolchildren under the age of 12 who were supposed to be making toys for the holidays, working on the VOG-17 deadly grenade “tails.”
The reporter explained: “This might look like a toy at first glance – but it’s capable of carrying out a very serious function. These are tails to help a grenade to hit right at the target when released from a drone, without flipping in the air.”
There are dozens of examples all across Russia of how Putin has militarized underage children in his efforts to be victorious over Ukraine.
In the documentary, another school — the Aleksandro-Slobodskaya School, is shown, where pupils in woodworking classes are forced to become experts at making crutches for wounded Russian soldiers.
Thus far, the students have made 60 pairs of crutches, and 40 have already been shipped to hospitals across the country to help disabled soldiers.
In that same school, children are ordered to make trench candles for use on the frontline. Govorit NeMoskva Telegram channel reported: “Schoolchildren across the country are forced to weave camouflage nets, make trench candles, dry soups, and make amulets for soldiers. Now it comes to forcing them to make parts for weapons.”
Putin has the students in Mozhga, Udmurtia region, knitting “stump stockings” to supply hospitals for the war wounded. These are for use by men whose feet or legs have been blown off or amputated.
Putin also instilled a Soviet-like mindset in Russian youth. Putin has done this by teaching anti-Ukraine and pro-war propaganda in Russian classrooms.
The Moscow Times reported: “Militarization has been actively penetrating the education sector since the beginning of the invasion of Ukraine. By the summer of 2023, Russian schools, colleges, and kindergartens had held 200,000 military-patriotic events related to the current war.”
Russia’s ministries of Defense and Education have joined efforts to make it mandatory for students to undergo standard military training.
Kids as young as four years of age have been seen role-playing battle scenarios. Four and five-year-olds in the Beshpagir area have been trained to march in their schools while bearing rifles.
“Baby Troops,” who appear to be around two to five years old and role-play soldiers, can be frequently spotted at pro-war pep rallies.
