In the summer of 2026, several groups of children from the Transnistrian region participated in “patriotic education” programs in Russia. Within these activities, manipulative Russian narratives about history and identity connection are promoted.
In June 2026, students from the left bank of the Dniester went to the “Artek” camp in Crimea, which is under international sanctions for involvement in the forced transfer and ideological indoctrination of Ukrainian children. Their participation took place in an extremely fragile security context, exposing them to additional risks, according to a report published by Promo-LEX.
Subsequently, from June 23 to July 13, another group of students participated in the international program “Circle of Friends”, held at the “Orlyonok” children’s center in the Krasnodar region of Russia. This institution too is sanctioned and carries out programs for the training of young military personnel and border guards, and from 2024 it will also host a museum dedicated to the war in Ukraine.
Moreover, within the center, meetings are also organized for children with Russian soldiers who participated in the war against Ukraine.
In the summer of 2026, students from the Transnistrian region participated in other Russian “patriotic education” initiatives, including activities of the “First Movement” and the “Memory Train” project.
“The First Movement” is a state organization for children and young people, established in the Russian Federation in 2022 and led by an officer who participated in the war in Ukraine.
The “Memory Train” project, also launched in 2022, declaratively aims to protect the “historical truth” and combat the alleged “rewriting” of it. The initiative promotes the propagandistic discourse used by the Russian Federation to justify the invasion of Ukraine.