The enemy uses the organization of children and youth, “Movement of the First,” founded in 2022, to achieve a number of key goals related to ideological, political, and social influence on the younger generation.
The National Resistance Center offers to consider the main key aspects of the movement’s ideology:
– Ideological education. The “movement of the first” organization serves as a tool for the formation of pro-Kremlin ideals and values among children and youth. Through the organization, the occupiers are trying to educate a new generation in the spirit of patriotism, loyalty to the government, and cultivating the image of a “great Russia” with strong positions in world politics. This is an analogue of Soviet organizations, such as the Pioneers, where loyalty to the communist government was formed.
– Control over information. The organization allows the Kremlin to control the educational and upbringing processes, influencing the knowledge and information children receive. Thus, historical and political narratives favorable to the enemy state can be actively disseminated within this movement.
– Recruiting for future elites. This organization can serve as a platform for the development of promising individuals who can then work for Russia or be recruited into the ranks of the occupying army.
– Youth mobilization. The organization helps to prepare young people to participate in various social, political, and even military projects, in particular to support the Kremlin’s policies both domestically and internationally.
– Countering the influence of the West. In light of the deterioration of relations between Russia and the West, organizations like the First Movement help counter Western influence on young people by promoting “nationalist” and anti-Western views.
At the same time, it should be noted that the Russian authorities seek to control and use future generations through the organization of children and youth by the “movement of the first” to influence their views, worldview, and political position, ensuring the stability of their power in the long term. In this regard, the enemy government has allocated 60 billion rubles for the further development of this organization.
The National Resistance Center emphasizes to all the criminals of the occupation regime that Ukraine, with the support of the international community, is taking all possible measures to record and investigate the war crimes committed so that after the de-occupation of the regions, all those involved will be brought to justice in accordance with the laws of Ukraine.
Why did the occupiers create the organization of children and youth, “Movement of the First”?
