Russia wants to create a new generation of influencers online who support the war in Ukraine. To this end, the state is setting up training camps for young people – with the aim of spreading the Kremlin’s hard, anti-Western line specifically among young people.
Since the invasion of Ukraine began in 2022, Moscow has massively expanded its control over the information space: criticism of the military operation is prohibited, access to foreign media is restricted – and the state line is imposed on the entire society.
Schools and young people are at the center of the offensive: curricula and textbooks have been adapted to anchor the official justification for the war. And soldiers are increasingly showing up in classrooms to mobilize support.
Green sweaters, red berets: At the beginning of April, over 120 young people met in a content camp in Moscow. There they receive training from military officers and journalists from state media. On the agenda: produce online content, use AI and build reach.