Russian Cadet School

Synopsis

In Russia, children as young as ten attend military-style summer camps where they learn to use machine guns. These camps aim to prepare them as recruits for the notorious Russian Special Forces. Capt Gennady Korotayev, a key figure in this initiative, emphasizes the importance of instilling aggression in the children, stating, "Point the gun at him. Be tougher!" The program receives backing from both the Communist Party and the Russian Orthodox Church, highlighting a significant societal endorsement of militarizing youth. This controversial approach raises questions about the implications of training child soldiers in a country with a complex military history.