Increase in “Cossack Classes” – Children Being Trained by Active Military of the “Crimean Cossack District”
The “Cossack” movement in the temporarily occupied territory of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea is gaining momentum: “Cossack” classes are already functioning in schools, and there are plans to increase their number. Representatives of the “Crimean Cossack District,” who actively participate in the war against Ukraine, are involved in the upbringing of children and conducting military training classes for children. In an interview on July 25, 2024, the “chief ataman” of the Black Sea “Cossack” army, Syrotkin A.V. talks about the “Cossack” battalion (over 400 people) within the Russian National Guard, which participates in the so-called “special military operation” (SVO), and emphasizes the necessity of “patriotic” education for the youth.
It is worth noting that Cossack classes were the first steps in the process of Russia’s militarisation of Ukrainian children’s education, and this was happening even before the start of the Russian-Ukrainian war in 2014. An example of this is the Crimean Cadet Corps, which was opened in 2008 and trained more than a hundred children annually.
“Cossack” servicemen, who are combat participants in Ukraine, conduct military training classes for children. This is how the militarization of Ukrainian children occurs, and distorted views on the war initiated by Russia against Ukraine are formed: children, seeing military figures as authoritative, may begin to perceive Russia’s aggressive actions as legitimate and justified.
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Since 2016, every summer, the Black Sea “Cossack” army has organized a special camp session for its wards. This year, the “School of Young Atamans” session for 340 “Cossack children” started at the “Sunny Tavrika” branch – the “Dolphin” camp.
The “Sunny Tavrika” enterprise is engaged in “children’s health improvement” and includes several camps, and after the full-scale invasion, it became “known” for forcibly taking Ukrainian children to its camps. For these reasons, on December 28, 2023, European Union sanctions were imposed on the enterprise’s director, Ermakova L.O. More details can be found: https://hromadske.ua/rozsliduvannia-dytiachi-tabory-v-krymu
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The session organizer was also the so-called Ministry of Education, Science, and Youth of the Republic of Crimea, and the leader appointed was the “ataman” of the Black Sea Hundred of the SKO, Gabelko V.V. As part of the special session program, military stages of the All-Russian military-sports game “Cossack Alarm,” GTO, and a spartakiad – military competitions aimed at preparing pre-conscription “Cossack” youth for service in the Russian army – were held. During the session, children were taught skills such as target shooting, tactical medicine, and handling and chopping with a saber.
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In addition to the special session, “Cossack children” from the so-called “Shcholkino Stanitsa” (note – the city of Shcholkino, TOT of the AR Crimea) were involved in the “Bogatyry Multiathlon” tournament. The tournament was held at the “Bogatyry” military-patriotic sports club of DOSAAF Russia in the village of Lenino, with all elements of military training: children in camouflage uniforms, imitation of real field conditions, and consisted of three militaristic stages: the military-sports game of laser tag, shooting with an air rifle, and knife throwing.
