How the Kremlin Is Preparing Russian Teenagers to Take Part in the War — a Vot Tak Investigation

How the Kremlin Is Preparing Russian Teenagers to Take Part in the War — a Vot Tak Investigation

A fenced-off compound, entry through a checkpoint. Smartphones are taken away on site, searches are conducted with dogs, and military uniforms are issued. Then come five days of intensive training: shooting, drill practice, and drone operation. This is not training for mercenaries before being sent to the front, but mandatory military camps for schoolchildren.

For several years now, these have been run by the military-patriotic Avangard centers, which are also recruiting teenagers into the army. Their first trainees have already gone into the military, and at least one has been killed in Ukraine.

Vot Tak has released a major investigation into how the centers operate, how many millions of dollars have been poured into them, how they advertise the army there, and who has already profited from it.

Dozhd selected the key points — read about it on our website.