Echoes of indoctrination. Russian National Guard plays Santa in a disturbing propaganda quest

These propaganda efforts by Russia seem to focus solely on achieving an effect to serve their purpose. The development and welfare of Russia's young population do not seem to be a priority. Observations suggest this through the actions directed by officers of the Russian National Guard.

National Guard soldiers have begun visiting many schools, kindergartens, and orphanages across Russia. During these visits, they distribute gifts and portray themselves as Grandfather Frost (the Eastern equivalent of Santa Claus, who gives out gifts).

The Russian media often cover the visits of the National Guard. They have reported visits in areas including but not limited to Primorsky Krai, Dagestan, Ingushetia, Kurgan, Belgorod, Kursk, Tambov, Yaroslavl, and Elektrostal.

However, it's not the visits or the gift-giving that have sparked controversies. The officers of the Russian National Guard reinforce to children the idea that war isn't inherently wrong. They validate Kremlin’s violent actions and encourage the youngest to "support the Russian army in the war with Ukraine".

The Kremlin regime is persistently militarizing children. From a very tender age, they are taught to accept war as a routine state of affairs - a blatant infringement on their childhood - tweeted Anton Heraszczenko, advisor to Ukraine's Minister of Internal Affairs and a well-known Ukrainian blogger.

Let's not forget that this isn't the first instance of children becoming the targets of Russian propaganda. Previously, institutions in Moscow and other cities frequently witnessed visits from soldiers and police officers who tried to ingrain their ideologies in young Russians. Additionally, since last September, weekly patriotic lessons named "Conversations about what's important" have been introduced within the school curriculum.

Russian propaganda utilizes children in other ways as well. For instance, they portray the abduction of children from Ukraine (for which Vladimir Putin is internationally sought) as a form of "rescue from their destiny".