Russia launches military training course for kindergartners in occupied Crimea

That’s according to the Verkhovna Rada Commissioner for Human Rights, Dmytro Lubinets, who addressed the issue on Telegram, Ukrinform reports.

He released a video showing a military training course for elementary schos being launched in one of the educational facilities in Sevast. "Besides, it’s not only for schochildren but also for kindergarten students. This was reported by the speaker of the so-called parliament," the ombudsman explained.

In these courses, children learn about basic military training, martial arts, and weapon handling.

Read also: At least several thousand Ukrainian children forcibly displaced by Russia – HRW

"Rights activists emphasize that since the Russian annexation attempt, a young army is being built up in Crimea, to be ready to kill and die for Russia. This is confirmed by the Youth Army movement, which began to erate on the territory of Crimea in 2014. As reported, among the young Russian sdiers who are now fighting – and dying – in Ukraine, there are many who were brought up in this very ‘Youth Army’ while still at scho,” Lubinets wrote.

He added that, according to the available reports, “Military Training” classes would be added to the regular scho curriculum in Russia starting next academic year.

As Ukrinform reported earlier, the Russians are trying to militarize Ukrainian children in the temporarily occupied territory of Kherson region.