Mariupol's First Youth Army Class
The first 'Yunarmiya' (Youth Army) class has been established at School No. 41 in the temporarily occupied city of Mariupol. This class is designed to prepare children for service in the armed forces of the Russian Federation. During the opening ceremony, students were compelled to take an oath of allegiance to Russia and join the Yunarmiya youth organization, which operates under the direct supervision of Russia's Ministry of Defense. The class curriculum includes instruction in military drill, tactical medicine, and patriotic education.
Recruiting Youth into the Youth Army
In addition to School No. 41, Yunarmiya branches are also operating in Mariupol at Schools No. 26 and No. 7. Last year, the city's occupation administration issued an order mandating that schools cooperate with the Yunarmiya. The principal of an occupied school outlined the organization's goal, stating:
"We aim to raise future defenders of the country."
Furthermore, a mass recruitment of children into the Yunarmiya is being observed in the occupied part of the Kherson region. According to occupation media, over 250 minors from the Kherson region have joined the organization's ranks. This trend highlights the active efforts by occupation administrations to establish youth military structures in territories under Russian control. The Yunarmiya is a state-sponsored Russian youth movement with explicit military-patriotic aims.
The opening of these Yunarmiya classes in Ukraine, particularly in Mariupol and the Kherson region, demonstrates a systematic approach by occupation authorities to involve youth in military service and patriotic indoctrination. This could have long-term consequences for shaping a new generation supportive of Russian policy and military initiatives. Observing this trend underscores the need for international awareness and response to developments in the region.