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‘Loyal to the motherland’: joining Russia’s Youth Army

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At the Stalingrad Battle Museum in Russia s southern city of Volgograd, dozens of teenagers stand in a circle, waiting to take oath as they join the patriotic Youth Army movement. Dressed in beige trousers and red berets, the children stand in rows in the building s iconic Triumphant Hall, decorated in white marble and symbols of the Red Army crushing the Nazis. "Do you swear to always be loyal to the motherland?" a group leader said. "I swear!" they replied in chorus. Some parents watched as their children took the oath in the presence of officials, war veterans and local leaders of the militaristic youth group. Daria Chertkova said her 12-year-old son Stanislav made a "conscious decision" to join the group by himself. "We supported it," she told AFP. The family had always been patriotic and interested in the past, the 31-year-old mother said. According to the Youth Army s website, more than 1.2 million children have joined its ranks since 2016 But Moscow s offensive in Ukraine and the fallout over it pushed them to take their patriotism a step further. "He knows about the special military operation," Chertkova said, using Moscow s term for the offensive. "In part, what is happening in the world influenced his decision." She hopes her younger son, who is six years old, will also join the movement. "For a boy, I think the main thing is: to love your country, to defend your motherland, to be a patriot." Patriotic education has been on the rise in Russia for years, but it has taken centre stage since the Kremlin sent troops to Ukraine almost a year ago. Even more patriotic According to the Youth Army s website, more than 1.2 million children have joined its ranks since the movement was launched in 2016. The group accepts children between eight and 18 years old. It is heavily focused on the memory of the Soviet war effort against the Nazis. The oath-taking ceremony in Volgograd came ahead of the 80th anniversary of the battle of Stalingrad, the name of the city at the time. Patriotic education has been on the rise in Russia for years Teacher Yuliya Chernishova, who accompanied her students taking part in the ceremony, said movements like the Youth Army are "very important in our times." The teacher said she had taken her students to visit soldiers wounded in Ukraine. The children performed a comedy show for the injured troops. "We also did New Year postcards (for soldiers on the front)," the 42-year-old said. Parents AFP spoke to struggled to decide how much to disclose to the youths. "He knows that Russia has entered into a conflict with Ukraine," said Lilya, a pensioner who refused to give her last name. She was accompanying her 10-year-old grandson Artyom -- one of the youngest taking part in the ceremony -- to the event. The Youth Army has often been called Russia s 21st century version of the Soviet Pioneer and Komsomol movements -- albeit with different uniforms and with glitzy social media accounts. Lilya, who used to work in Volgograd s puppet theatre, said she "did it all" in her Soviet youth. "I was a Pioneer, Komsomol and Little Octobrist," the grandmother said, wearing a fur coat and purple glasses. The Youth Army is heavily focused on the memory of the Soviet war effort against the Nazis Asked what made the Youth Army different, she said: "I think they are even more focused on instilling patriotism."

At the Stalingrad Battle Museum in Russia s southern city of Volgograd, dozens of teenagers stand in a circle, waiting to take oath as they join the patriotic Youth Army movement.

Dressed in beige trousers and red berets, the children stand in rows in the building s iconic Triumphant Hall, decorated in white marble and symbols of the Red Army crushing the Nazis.

“Do you swear to always be loyal to the motherland?” a group leader said.

“I swear!” they replied in chorus.

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Some parents watched as their children took the oath in the presence of officials, war veterans and local leaders of the militaristic youth group.

Daria Chertkova said her 12-year-old son Stanislav made a “conscious decision” to join the group by himself.

“We supported it,” she told AFP.

The family had always been patriotic and interested in the past, the 31-year-old mother said.

According to the Youth Army s website, more than 1.2 million children have joined its ranks since 2016

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But Moscow s offensive in Ukraine and the fallout over it pushed them to take their patriotism a step further.

“He knows about the special military operation,” Chertkova said, using Moscow s term for the offensive.

“In part, what is happening in the world influenced his decision.”

She hopes her younger son, who is six years old, will also join the movement.

“For a boy, I think the main thing is: to love your country, to defend your motherland, to be a patriot.”

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Patriotic education has been on the rise in Russia for years, but it has taken centre stage since the Kremlin sent troops to Ukraine almost a year ago.

 Even more patriotic 

According to the Youth Army s website, more than 1.2 million children have joined its ranks since the movement was launched in 2016.

The group accepts children between eight and 18 years old.

It is heavily focused on the memory of the Soviet war effort against the Nazis.

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The oath-taking ceremony in Volgograd came ahead of the 80th anniversary of the battle of Stalingrad, the name of the city at the time.

Patriotic education has been on the rise in Russia for years

Teacher Yuliya Chernishova, who accompanied her students taking part in the ceremony, said movements like the Youth Army are “very important in our times.”

The teacher said she had taken her students to visit soldiers wounded in Ukraine.

The children performed a comedy show for the injured troops.

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“We also did New Year postcards (for soldiers on the front),” the 42-year-old said.

Parents AFP spoke to struggled to decide how much to disclose to the youths.

“He knows that Russia has entered into a conflict with Ukraine,” said Lilya, a pensioner who refused to give her last name.

She was accompanying her 10-year-old grandson Artyom — one of the youngest taking part in the ceremony — to the event.

The Youth Army has often been called Russia s 21st century version of the Soviet Pioneer and Komsomol movements — albeit with different uniforms and with glitzy social media accounts.

Advertisement

Lilya, who used to work in Volgograd s puppet theatre, said she “did it all” in her Soviet youth.

“I was a Pioneer, Komsomol and Little Octobrist,” the grandmother said, wearing a fur coat and purple glasses.

The Youth Army is heavily focused on the memory of the Soviet war effort against the Nazis

Asked what made the Youth Army different, she said: “I think they are even more focused on instilling patriotism.” 

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India formulate security plan for World Cup 2023

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India formulate security plan for World Cup 2023

 India have chalked out a comprehensive plan for multi-layer security and management of traffic for the upcoming ICC Men’s World Cup 2023. 

A security official told Indian media that arrangements had been made for smooth influx of fans into the stadiums and maintain uninterrupted traffic flow on roads.

He said multi-layer security plan had been designed for the mega event, adding that a communication system would also be established for seamless coordination between security agencies and local cricket association. 

The security teams would ensure the safe movement of teams from hotel to stadium and back by creating secure pathways. 

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As several stadiums, including Pune, are situated at a considerable distance from the city, seamless arrangements have been made to handle the logistical challenge in an effective way.

Commissioner of Pimpri Chinchwad police Vinoy Kumar Choubey said told Indian media, “We will be putting in place a multi-layer security cover in and around the stadium. A detailed plan for the same is in the making.

“Each layer will have a specific purpose and a pre-decided number of personnel and officers will be tasked to secure each layer. A communication channel has been established between the MCA office bearers and our team.”

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South Korea opposition leader ends 24-day hunger strike

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South Korea opposition leader ends 24-day hunger strike

 South Korea’s opposition leader ended a 24-day hunger strike on Saturday, a party spokesperson said, two days after parliament voted to let prosecutors serve an arrest warrant against him for alleged bribery.

Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, will maintain a schedule including court attendance while hospitalised for the time being, the spokesman told reporters.

Prosecutors this month sought the warrant in an investigation into bribery allegations concerning a development project. Prosecutors accuse Lee of asking a company to illegally transfer $8 million to North Korea when he was the governor of Gyeonggi Province.

He is also accused of breaching his duty over losses of 20 billion won ($15 million) by a municipal development corporation when he was mayor of Seongnam city.

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Lee, who lost South Korea’s presidential election to conservative Yoon Suk Yeol last year, has denied wrongdoing, calling the allegations “fiction” and a “political conspiracy”.

He began his protest on Aug. 31, citing the government’s economic mismanagement, threats to media freedom and the failure to oppose Japan’s release of wastewater from the wrecked Fukushima nuclear plant, among other reasons.

Thursday’s surprise vote by parliament, controlled by Lee’s party, has caused an uproar among his supporters.

Police on Saturday detained a man in his 40s who had posted the names of more than a dozen lawmakers outside Lee’s party faction, writing “gotta search for the sniper rifle at home”, said an official with the Gyeonggi Nambu Provincial Police. Police will seek an arrest warrant against him for intimidation, the official said.

South Korea is to hold parliamentary elections in April.

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Landslide causes large chunk of Swedish motorway to collapse

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Landslide causes large chunk of Swedish motorway to collapse

 A large chunk of a motorway in southwest Sweden collapsed overnight, causing three people to be taken to hospital with light injuries, police said on Saturday.

The landslide damaged the motorway between Sweden’s second-biggest city Gothenburg and Norway’s capital Oslo, near the small town of Stenungsund, around 50 km north of Gothenburg on Sweden’s west coast.

“The landslide has affected an area of around 100 x 150 meters, around ten vehicles, a wooded area, and a business area with a gas station and a fast food restaurant,” the Gothenburg Rescue Services said.

“A number of people have been helped out of vehicles in the slide area with the help of fire personnel and a helicopter,” they said. Several cars and one truck had fallen into holes and cracks caused by the landslide, Swedish news agency TT reported.

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A rescue services spokesperson told public broadcaster SVT all people in the vehicles had been helped out. The rescue services said specially trained staff and search dogs would now search the area, and that further slides could not be ruled out.

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