Exploiting innocence: How Russia uses children in propaganda war

Russian propaganda frequently employs the imagery of children to mould the national discourse and to justify its actions on the international stage.

Children are featured in various propaganda outlets, from state media reports and organized events to school curricula designed for young audiences.

In schools, for example, teaching materials glorify Russian historical and contemporary achievements while painting Russia as a stronghold of security against external threats and the perceived malevolence of the West.

One of the more explicit uses of children in Russian propaganda includes portraying them as casualties of armed conflicts. The youngest's suffering is at the feet of Russia's political adversaries. Such portrayals seek to provoke an emotional response, inciting sympathy and indignation from the global community.

Russians also frequently involve children in large national parades or state ceremonies, reminiscent of practices during the USSR era. Children may recite patriotic poems, sing anthems, or perform in plays about historical events in such settings. As illustrated below, this is not an exhaustive list.

An online video filmed at an event in Russia reveals a gathering of children, each wielding a framed photograph. The identities of the individuals in these photographs are left to the viewer's imagination; they are presumed to be figures "worthy" of recognition in the Ukrainian conflict.

For Russians, the deemed worthy and heroic often include individuals guilty of war crimes at the front or criminals who sought freedom through combat. Many are deceased, yet to the authorities, they represent the pinnacle of sacrifice for the nation. This is the narrative fed to children, a practice of which the Kremlin is undoubtedly proud.