Schoolchildren as young as nine were filmed parading in military uniforms while carrying replica machine guns and chanting war songs in Russia. The parade coincided with a call from Vladimir Putin's top security official for a boost to military training for children. Other scenes showed pupils aged seven to 16 also marching in military attire while singing the war songs. Organisers of the Elektrostal event said: 'It was not a parade, but a school check of marching and songs.' School deputy head Elena Karpacheva said children aged nine had carried 'toy guns', while others aged seven to 16 had only marched and sung war songs.

Source: Daily Mail May 15, 2021 18:47 UTC