Despite record declines in oil revenues and a growing budget deficit, the Kremlin has doubled its 2025 funding for Yunarmiya, a Russian youth movement known for promoting military training and ideological indoctrination among teenagers, reported independent Russian outlet Mozhem Obyasnit, citing the organization’s financial documents on April 22.
The group has been allocated $12.3 million (1 billion rubles) this year—the highest amount since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Of that, $9.85 million will come from federal subsidies under the national project Youth and Children, launched by presidential order in 2024 to create “advanced schools” in Russia’s regions.
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Yunarmiya was established in 2016 by then-Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu. According to its official website, the group now includes 1.75 million children and teenagers.
Activities include basic military training, army-style discipline, and patriotic education—including programs conducted in Russian-occupied Ukrainian territories.
The group has been tasked with instilling what the government calls the “right attitude” toward military service. In 2021, the Russian government set a target to grow Yunarmiya’s ranks to 3.25 million children by 2030.
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