Russia is intensifying efforts to cultivate a new generation of pro-government online influencers through content creation camps aimed at teaching teenagers how to produce digital material aligned with the Kremlin’s narrative, including support for its war in Ukraine.
Since the invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Moscow has tightened control over its domestic information space, introducing strict military censorship laws, restricting foreign media, and expanding state-backed messaging across schools and youth organisations.
Education curricula have been revised to reflect official justifications for the conflict, while military personnel have been deployed to classrooms to encourage pro-war sentiment among students.
At a recent training camp held in Moscow, more than 120 teenagers attended workshops led by soldiers and state media journalists on video production, artificial intelligence tools, and audience engagement strategies. Participants wore coordinated uniforms, including green sweaters and red berets, as part of the programme’s structured setting.
Vladislav Golovin, a former soldier and senior figure in the Young Army Cadets Movement, said the initiative was designed to build a network of young content creators aligned with state messaging.
“We have created a huge team of kids who understand how to broadcast government values and our organisation’s values,” he said in a statement.
Promotional material from the event showed cadets taking part in military-style drills, including a competition involving reloading a rifle.
Another state-linked youth programme, the Movement of the First, runs competitions that reward teenagers for building large online audiences and producing popular blogs.
Analysts say the programmes are part of a broader strategy to strengthen patriotic sentiment and reinforce support for Russia’s military actions.
Keir Giles of the Conflict Studies Research Centre said the initiatives form part of a wider campaign to reshape perceptions of the armed forces among young Russians.
He noted that many teenagers involved have grown up entirely under President Vladimir Putin’s leadership, describing their environment as one shaped by state narratives.
The Kremlin has repeatedly emphasised the importance of patriotic education. In 2023, Putin referenced a historical quote attributed to Otto von Bismarck, stating that wars are influenced not only by military leaders but also by educators and religious figures.
He has also said that instilling patriotism in youth is essential for national stability.
The revival of Soviet-era youth structures, including the Young Army and other state-backed organisations, has played a central role in expanding these efforts. The groups now claim millions of members across Russia and regularly participate in national events and military commemorations.
Experts say the shift towards digital platforms has further amplified the reach of state messaging, with algorithms on social media enabling highly targeted content delivery.
Veronika Solopova, a disinformation specialist at the Technological University of Berlin, said younger audiences are particularly susceptible to emotionally driven content distributed online, which can be tailored to reinforce specific political narratives.
Research also suggests that social media has become the primary news source for a significant portion of young Russians, increasing the impact of short-form video and influencer-style content.
Analysts including Giorgi Revishvili, a former national security adviser in Georgia, argue that such content is designed not only to build support for Russia but also to weaken sympathy for Ukraine through subtle messaging.
At the Moscow camp, participants described a sense of empowerment in producing media content for large audiences.
“When you are behind the camera, you realise you are the one shaping emotions in people,” one participant said in promotional footage.
Another added: “The truth lies in a frame, and we are operating the camera.”