Russian Defense Ministry: 1500 school students joint ‘Youth Army’ movement in Crimea
The Russian Ministry of Defense announced that roughly 1 500 school students from Sevastopol have “joined the ranks” of the Russian military and patriotic social movement “Yunarmia” (Youth Army), reported the press service of Russia’s Southern Military District.
“At present, the Youth Army movement in Sevastopol has been joined by 55 general secondary education institutions, children’s social and sport organizations,” the report states.
The report notes that the Sevastopol school students were welcomed to the Yunarmia at the Sailor and Soldier Monument. Present at the welcoming ceremony was Aleksanr Vitko, commander of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet, whom Ukraine accuses of infringement of its territorial integrity and inviolability.
According to the investigation, between 20 February and 21 March 2014, while in control of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet, Vitko organized and facilitated the annexation of Crimea. He oversaw the destruction of strategically important defense facilities, and participated directly in aggressive warfare against Ukraine. The Ukrainian Prosecutor General’s Office insists that the admiral is faced with life imprisonment.
In May last year, Ukrainian law enforcement officials placed Aleksandr Vitko on the state wanted list, and a month later his case was transferred to the court.
On 20 July, the Basmanny Court of Moscow arrested a Ukrainian military prosecutor in connection with the criminal case against Admiral Vitko.
The official Youth Army website says that the movement’s goal is “the patriotic upbringing of a new generation of Russian citizens”.