Published on February 20, 2024 8:57 p.m
Video length: 6 min
War in Ukraine: When Russia recruits young Ukrainians War in Ukraine: When Russia recruits young Ukrainians – (France 2)
Analysis of hundreds of videos on social networks by France Télévisions' Revelators unit has uncovered a system for recruiting young Ukrainians by a Russian paramilitary organization.
They are children or young people, they are Ukrainians and they are being militarized by the Russians, driven by hatred for their own country. Is there a large-scale indoctrination system in the territories seized from Ukraine and occupied by Russia? Some young people wear a red beret on their social media profiles. Younarmia, a Russian paramilitary youth organization, is behind this headgear. His poster is ubiquitous on the walls of Russian-occupied cities. The frescoes glorifying Younarmia all bear a QR code that links to the organization's official website, which describes Ukrainians as “neo-Nazis.”
Recruiting in old schools
Young Ukrainians, already members of Younarmia, come to convince other young people. The organization's premises are often set up in schools that existed before the Russians arrived. France Télévisions counted at least 27. At Younarmia, young people learn how to use weapons after taking the oath.
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