In Russia, many social spending items have been cut during the war, but funding for patriotic youth education continues to grow. The Movement of the First, created in 2022 on the initiative of Vladimir Putin, has become the country’s largest state youth structure, absorbing earlier projects including the Russian Youth Union and Yunarmiya. Its leadership says it now has more than 13 million participants.
After reviewing TikTok videos and speaking with teenagers, Vyorstka reports that many join for reasons other than ideology. Kristina from Belgorod said she entered the movement after filming a video for a regional youth center that received one million views. She said she enjoyed taking part in flash mobs. Activists post dances and short clips on social media, although comment sections often contain insults.
The movement receives about 20 billion rubles a year. In 2024, Vyorstka says, 10 billion went to regional branches and 7 billion to the central office, while other funds supported grants, the Big Change competition, and related programs. At the same time, some students told the outlet that registration is effectively imposed through schools.
Patriotic messaging plays a major role, especially in campaigns tied to February 23 and May 9. Together with Yunarmiya, the movement runs Zarnitsa 2.0, where children take on militarized roles and practice shooting and drone operation. But participants say the main draw is different: travel, meeting new people, merchandise, gifts, extra exam points, and a legitimate way to miss classes.
“They understand perfectly well that they can rely only on themselves, that adults in these ‘patriotic’ games are trying to use them, and they in turn try to use the situation to get bonuses,” psychologist Lyudmila Petranovskaya said.
Historian and Teachers’ Union representative Dmitry Kazakov said the movement is unlikely to make all children equally loyal, though the effects of such hypocrisy may appear later. The teenagers interviewed by Vyorstka mostly described participation as a pragmatic opportunity for self-development and travel rather than a political choice.