Putin ‘indoctrinating children’ with toy missile launchers

Russia is accused of indoctrinating infants into supprorting military action against Ukraine (Picture: East2West)

Russian infants are being indoctrinated into Vladimir Putin’s war with their own toy Iskander missile complex.

The model of the hypersonic nuclear-capable weapon is selling for £299 and is said to be suitable for two-to-six-year-olds.

The hulking ‘bestselling’ toy weighs 35kg and fires ‘soft rockets’ to mimic a deadly weapon used by Putin to wreak havoc on civilian and military targets during his invasion of Ukraine.

The miniature Iskander drives at a speed of 4mph with parents able to control the steering via remote control, say the makers.

The ridable Iskander missile launcher is based off the same weapons systems Putin uses to terrorise Ukraine (Picture: East2west news)

The Iskander toy is one of the most graphic examples of the militarisation of childhood underway in Russia during the war against Ukraine.

Many children also receive war-related lessons at schools, or are encouraged to attend military classes.‌

They are dressed in military fatigues, made to role-play marching, use of weapons or staffing a ’field hospital’.

They are taught to ‘destroy’ Western tanks deployed, sit in front of Putin’s portrait, and listen to stories of Russian ‘heroism’ from participants in the illegal invasion of Ukraine.

Russian nurseries and kindergartens immerse toddlers and children in ‘play’ military activities like dressing them in military fatigues and making them listen to Putin’s propaganda (Picture: E2W)

Putin’s Yunarmia or Young Army, likened by critics to the Hitler Youth, has now topped 1.5 million in membership, with children given military training.

A mother named Natalya, from Irkutsk region, who objected to the militarisation of her child’s kindergarten was fined £290 under Russia’s draconian laws for ‘discrediting’ the army.

She had asked for fewer war-like toys.‌

Teachers at the nursery school reported her for ‘expressing herself offensively towards Putin’.

Putin’s ‘Young Army’ has been compared to the Hitler Youth (Picture: E2W)

A salesman promoted the Iskander toy, which is made in China but selling strongly in Russia:

Friends, you are looking at the Iskander missile system.

‘It comes with soft rockets.

‘You can load them and fire them. That’s how it works.

‘There are light effects, sound effects, rubber wheels.

‘The chair is made of eco-leather….

‘There is a remote control and pedal steering wheel.

Young children also receive military lessons at school (Picture: E2W)

‘In the front….there’s a small cargo area under this lid.

‘Where you can put the remote control, charger and ammunition.’

The ‘soft rockets…will not damage anything around or cause harm to others.

‘Thanks to the all-wheel drive system, the equipment can go to complete the task in any terrain.’

Ukrainian official Anton Gerashchenko branded the toy Iskander a ‘nightmare’ for reasonable Russian parents.

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