Russian schoolchildren Taste Military Training

Khartoum Highlight – Reuters -Dozens of Russian schoolchildren embarked on an unusual adventure.  Along the banks of a river in southern Russia this week . But it was far from an ordinary holiday camp. Amid chants of encouragement from military instructors, 83 Russian schoolchildren, aged between 8 and 17. They took part in a “march along the road” on the banks of the Don River.  Running and crawling on their stomachs across sand and shallow waters.  The training, supervised by soldiers who had fought in the war in Ukraine, is part of a broader push in Russia. It aim to instill military skills in children from an early age, preparing them eventually for service.

When asked about the most unforgettable moment, eight-year-old Ivan Glushchenko did not hesitate: “How we threw grenades and fired mock shots”.  The children were part of a group of military students run by the Cossacks in the Rostov region, near the Ukrainian border. Anton, one of the older boys, explained his motivation: “Why am I here? Because I want to tie my future to military service. I want to serve my country and remain loyal to my cause until the end.”