Child Soldiers

September 2008 Russian children as young as ten, are attending military style summer camps. Here they are taught to use machine guns for the purpose of becoming recruits for the notorious Russian Special Forces. We try to imagine that those we are trying to kill are not really human. Because they have stepped on the most sacred; our home country, explains Capt Gennady Korotayev, who tries to inspire aggression amongst the children. Point the gun at him. Be tougher! Both the Communist Party and Russian Orthodox Church support the scheme. Here you dont go to war in order to kill, but to defend your country with your own blood. Its a just and merciful way, says Priest, Vladimir Sakharov. Just as the peacock fans its feathers, this military style training of children seems to stand as a warning to Russias enemies. As ten-year old Andrey says A lot of people could attack Russia. America! Or some of the Eastern countries. With innocence so readily discarded, what more will be lost along the way?