A recent festival in Tomsk, Russia, titled "Peaceful Warrior of the Russian Federation," featured a controversial activity for children, visible in a video reposted on x by Ukrainian journalist Anton Gerashchenko,
The festival included a shooting range where, instead of traditional targets, photos of prominent international figures such as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, U.S. President Joe Biden, and NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg were used.
This event highlights a deeply troubling approach to teaching patriotism to children in Russia. By substituting standard shooting targets with images of foreign leaders, the festival's activities have raised serious concerns about the messages being imparted to the younger generation.
The use of real-life political figures as targets in a children’s shooting game is not only disturbing but also indicative of the current political climate and tensions in the region.
The incorporation of such imagery in a children's activity at a public festival points to a broader and more systemic issue within certain educational and public spheres in Russia.
It reflects an aggressive stance towards perceived adversaries and suggests an attempt to indoctrinate youth with specific political viewpoints from a young age.
Watch the video right here:
