In Russia, even eight-year-olds undergo military training

Dozens of schoolchildren enjoyed a riverside adventure in southern Russia this week, but it was no ordinary summer camp.

While being encouraged by military instructors, 83 children, aged 8 to 17, took part in a "field march" on the banks of the Don River, alternating between running and crawling on their stomachs across the sand and through shallow water, Reuters reported.

Many wore camouflage uniforms. Some had real weapons, while others held replicas.

The exercise, overseen by soldiers who have taken part in the war in Ukraine, is part of a wider trend in Russia to teach even young children skills that would prepare them for eventual military service, according to Reuters.

One of the youngest participants, eight-year-old Ivan Glushenko, answered without hesitation when asked what he found most memorable.

"How we threw hand grenades and fired dummy ammunition," he said.

The children were part of a cadet group run by Cossacks in the Rostov region, near the border with Ukraine.

"Why am I here? Because I want to tie my future to military service. I want to serve my country and be loyal to my cause until the very end," said one of the older boys, Anton.

David said the “field march” allowed him to test his own limits. “It gave me the opportunity to discover how strong my will is.”

Critics, such as the independent children's rights organization "Ne Norma," say that subjecting young people to military training and teaching them in schools how to handle weapons and build military drones is a form of indoctrination and propaganda.

Russian authorities, however, say that such education serves to instill healthy patriotism and strengthen national resilience.

Among the instructors in Rostov was Alexander Chopin, a Russian soldier wounded in Ukraine and awaiting surgery. His middle daughter was among the participants.

"This is not my first time participating in this field march. I like to share my experience with the children. You can see how they build a family," said Šopin.

He said his daughter enjoyed it, even though it was hard. “Running on a team and not letting her friends down - that's what she likes.”

After the training, some children were clearly elated.

“I almost died!” one teenage girl exclaimed.

"We ran three times!" her friend added, hugging her.

Instructor Vladimir Janjenko said the children gained “understanding and knowledge” from the experience.

“Patriotic training is very important,” he said. “They don’t want to be dragged around in dark streets. They have a lot more fun here.”