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Russia Pours $12 Million Into Training Teens for War, With Even Kindergartners Enlisted
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![Photo of Vlad Litnarovych]( "Photo of Vlad Litnarovych")
Despite record declines in oil revenues and a growing budget deficit, the Kremlin has doubled its 2025 funding for Yunarmiya , a Russian youth movement known for promoting military training and ideological indoctrination among teenagers, reported independent Russian outlet Mozhem Obyasnit, citing the organization’s financial documents on April 22.
The group has been allocated $12.3 million (1 billion rubles) this year—the highest amount since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Of that, $9.85 million will come from federal subsidies under the national project Youth and Children, launched by presidential order in 2024 to create “advanced schools” in Russia’s regions.
An additional $2.46 million will be provided by Russia’s Ministry of Defense to support military training for young people. This year’s sum is more than double what Yunarmiya received in 2024 when it was granted $5.91 million in state funds.
In 2023, the group received $5.78 million, and in 2022, $6.89 million. Beginning in the third year of the war, Russia’s state-owned Promsvyazbank—the primary financial backer of the Russian military-industrial complex—began donating to the youth organization. Financial documents show the bank contributed $123 thousand.
Yunarmiya was established in 2016 by then-Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu. According to its official website, the group now includes 1.75 million children and teenagers.
Activities include basic military training, army-style discipline, and patriotic education—including programs conducted in Russian-occupied Ukrainian territories.
The group has been tasked with instilling what the government calls the “right attitude” toward military service. In 2021, the Russian government set a target to grow Yunarmiya’s ranks to 3.25 million children by 2030.
Following Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Yunarmiya was sanctioned by the United States, European Union, Canada, the UK, and Australia. The organization has also been linked to the forced deportation of Ukrainian children.
The head of Yunarmiya’s central command is Vladislav Golovin, a Russian officer who took part in the siege of Mariupol and has been awarded the title “Hero of Russia.”
Previously, Yunarmiya began enrolling children from kindergartens. In one example, preschoolers from the Raduga kindergarten in the village of Rassvet, Rostov region, were formally inducted into the movement during a ceremony held at a Southern Military District base.
Earlier, reports emerged that since late February, Russian security forces stepped up visits to schools and colleges in occupied Ukrainian territories, promoting enrollment in military and law enforcement universities under the guise of “career guidance.” Alongside talks on road safety and drug prevention, officers encourage students to pursue careers in agencies like the Interior Ministry, FSB , and FSIN .
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