The case in summary: Pictures show Russian children receiving weapons training in Petsjenga, seven kilometers from the Norwegian border. The images have been verified by Faktik Verifirbar. Lieutenant Colonel Palle Ydstebø explains that these are completely normal activities in Russian society. Mayor of Sør-Varanger, Magnus Mæland, thinks it is surreal to see the pictures and wants to cancel the friendship agreement with Petsjenga. Editor in the Barents Observer, Thomas Nilsen, believes that many people in Norway do not understand the seriousness of the changes that Russian society is going through. The photos are taken from the Russian military youth organization, UNARMIYA. The summary is made by an AI service from OpenAi. The content is quality assured by news’s journalists before publication. – It is a completely new everyday life that has completely dawned on us. For the part of Norway that borders Russia, this is brutal. That’s what Thomas Nilsen, editor of the Barents Observer, tells us. On February 11, he posted several photos on his X account, which have now been verified by Faktisk. The pictures show Russian children receiving weapons training in Pechenga, a town in Murmansk. Verified for the first time – I thought it would be good to post some pictures and show people, because I don’t think I’m the only one who is surprised, says Nilsen. The pictures show children with real Kalashnikovs and children with replica weapons. There is also a picture of a girl making a camouflage net. Thomas Nilsen, editor of the Barents Observer. Nettavisen publishes news from the Barents region and the Arctic in English, Russian and Chinese. Photo: Kristina Kalinina / news The editor thinks the images from the neighboring country are frightening. – This is an area that we see from the Norwegian side of the border, if we take out the binoculars. An advanced version of “cowboy and Indian” – These are completely normal activities in Russian society, and you have to look at it afterwards. That explains Lieutenant Colonel and head teacher at the War School, Palle Ydstebø. Lieutenant Colonel and head teacher at the Military School, Palle Ydstebø. Photo: Gunhild Hjermundrud / Gunhild Hjermundrud He points out that the same features have been seen all the way back to the Soviet Union with the pioneer movement. – This is something the Russian authorities have taken up together with other activities to run a state form of what can be called a patriotic upbringing. The lieutenant colonel says that this is something that is well known. – This is done both by the authorities, but they have also used private companies such as the Wagner group and others to create youth camps that contain the use of weapons and military training for fairly young people. In fact Verifiable has verified that the images are screenshots taken from video and photo posted on a Russian online community that may resemble Facebook. The account on which the content was originally posted belongs to the Russian military youth organization, UNARMIYA. Children train with weapons in Russia. Photo: screenshot Ydstebø assumes the logic behind the training of the young is “the earlier, the better”. – But as a rule, they have probably previously waited until people can hold weapons themselves. So this is a slightly advanced version of “cowboy and Indian”, which we played as kids. Especially to see the pictures The one video will be filmed in the town of Nikel in Petsjenga. A city Thomas Nilsen in the Barents Observer has been in a lot. – It is very special for me to see these pictures. It is quite obvious that the social landscape on the other side of the border has changed completely since we traveled there, he says. He believes that many people in Norway do not understand the seriousness of the changes that Russian society is going through. Photo: screenshot – This is not about kids lying on a shooting range at Tivoli and shooting with air rifles. This is training by professional, adult soldiers who train the children in formation, he says. Mayor believes friendship agreement must be terminated – It cuts to the heart that children have to go through this. It is completely surreal to see such pictures. Mayor of Sør-Varanger, Magnus Mæland, says many in the municipality have friends in Russia. – When we get such verified videos and pictures, it does something to us. Mayor of Sør-Varanger, Magnus Mæland, says all freedom-loving people are welcome to the municipality. It doesn’t matter where you come from. Photo: Kristina Kalinina / news Sør-Varanger has been a friendly municipality with Petsjenga for several decades. The mayor believes the agreement must be terminated. – This is something that is far removed from the values we have in Norway. Then it will be completely impossible to have friendship agreements with such cities. – Is it scary that this is happening so close? – It’s not scary. We can’t go around thinking like that. Here in Sør-Varanger we have NATO’s border. And Norway’s closest allies and the alliance we are in make us safe and secure.
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Photos show Russian children with automatic weapons near the Norwegian border – news Urix – Foreign news and documentaries
