Putin horror as Russia spends £500m on military training for children | World | News

Vladimir Putin is accused of spending £500 million over the last five years on the construction of facilities to prepare children for war. Independent publication Vot Tak reports that the Russian state has developed a large area of ​​147 centers known as Avangard to provide compulsory military training to school-age children.

Vot Tak’s analysis found that the budgets of 39 regions, including annexed Crimea, allocated at least 36.5 billion rubles, or about £363 million, to Avangard centres. The single most expensive facility is located in Patriot Park, a military-themed complex; construction and maintenance here total 13.6 billion rubles, or approximately £136 million. Russia also operates a separate network of military-patriotic training grounds under the name Voin.

According to Vot Tak, they operate in 17 regions of Russia and four occupied regions of Ukraine.

The publication reported that, unlike Avangard centers, Voin’s expenses are paid directly by Moscow from the federal budget. More than 15 billion rubles, or approximately £149 million, have already been spent on the construction and maintenance of the sites.

On September 1, 2023, education became compulsory for Russian students, with schools introducing a new subject called Fundamentals of Homeland Security and Defense.

Within the scope of the program, tenth grade students spend five days in camps, and eighth grade students spend three days in camps.

Children are allowed to wear military uniforms, participate in drills, practice shooting, use guns and learn to use drones.

Some students who passed through the camps told Vot Tak that they were later targeted by recruiters from the armed forces and security agencies. Others said they were pushed to apply to military academies.

This comes as a US-brokered ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine ended on Monday, with both sides accusing each other of violating the 72-hour agreement.

Meanwhile, American and European officials were considering how to guide the warring countries into further talks.

Russian drones, bombs and artillery shelling hit civilian areas in northeastern Kharkiv and southern Kherson regions, killing at least two people and wounding seven others, including a 14-year-old boy, Ukrainian officials said Monday.

Russia’s Defense Ministry on Sunday accused Kiev of more than 1,000 ceasefire violations, state media reported.

Similar ceasefires declared since Russia invaded its neighbor more than four years ago have also failed to stop the fighting, and U.S.-led diplomatic efforts last year have foundered.

The Washington-based Institute for the Study of War said data from NASA’s observations showed that military activities decreased but did not stop after the US President. Donald Trump Last Friday, it was announced that Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky had accepted the request for a ceasefire that would last from Saturday to Monday.

The purpose of the movement was to celebrate Russia’s Victory Day, which celebrates the defeat of Nazi Germany.

The ISW said late Sunday that ceasefires “are unlikely to last without clear implementation mechanisms, reliable monitoring and defined dispute resolution processes.”

Mr Trump had also said there would be a prisoner exchange and declared that the pause in hostilities could be “the beginning of the end” of the war.

Mr. Zelensky said that an exchange of 1,000 prisoners from each side was being prepared.

But there is no sign that either side is ready to give up its key positions in the negotiations.

Mr. Putin wants the entire Donbas region, Ukraine’s industrial heartland, although his army has not taken it completely, but Mr. Zelensky will not surrender it.

Mr. Zelensky offered a ceasefire and face-to-face talks with Mr. Putin; but the Russian leader refused until a negotiated solution was almost certain.