Russian Children as Young as 8 Trained with AK-47s and Grenades at Military Camp (Photos)

Children as young as eight are being introduced to military-style training at a summer camp in Russia’s Rostov region, near the Ukrainian border.

The camp, supervised by Russian soldiers who fought in Ukraine, provided participants with what appeared to be real rifles and training in grenade handling. Around 83 children, aged 8 to 17, joined last week’s program, which included weapons practice, camouflage drills, and a “route march” along the River Don that involved crawling through sand and shallow water while carrying rifles.

Eight-year-old Ivan Glushchenko described the highlight of his camp experience as throwing grenades and firing dummy rounds. Other participants echoed the sense of challenge. A teenage girl, visibly exhausted after the march, said she “nearly died” completing it three times. Another boy, David, said the camp tested his endurance, adding: “It allowed me to find out how strong my willpower is.”

Instructors at the camp included Alexander Shopin, a wounded veteran of the war in Ukraine, who attended with his daughter. Shopin emphasized the camp’s role in fostering teamwork and resilience, saying: “I like it – to pass my experience to the children. You can see how a family is forged out of them.”

The program is part of a wider effort by Moscow to instill patriotism and prepare young Russians for possible future military service. “Patriotic training is very important. They don’t want to hang out in back alleyways. It’s much more fun for them here,” instructor Vladimir Yanenko explained.

For some participants, the camp is more than just an exercise in discipline. Older camper Anton said he attended because he sees his future in the armed forces: “To serve my country and be loyal to my cause until the very end.”