Nataliia Voitko

Militarizing the Vulnerable: Russia's 'Young Army' and Its Role in Occupied Ukraine

This research project examines the militarization of children in modern autocracies, with a focus on Russia and its All-Russian Military Patriotic Social Movement "Young Army" (Yunarmiya). The study specifically investigates the activities of the Young Army in the occupied Ukrainian territories. This youth organization is designed to prepare the younger generation (ages 8 to 18) for military service, promoting ideologically driven narratives and fostering loyalty to the state.
By employing a combination of qualitative, quantitative, and comparative methodologies, alongside Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT) techniques, the research aims to explore the dependent position of children in these territories. It analyzes the identities and expectations imposed on them through ideology, propaganda, and the façade of voluntariness, which often conceals coercive recruitment practices. This study seeks to deepen the understanding of how autocratic regimes use militarization as a tool to shape youth and expand military conscription among vulnerable populations.

since 2025
PhD Researcher, BCDSS, University of Bonn, Germany

2022–2024
Student Assistant, BCDSS, University of Bonn, Germany