And a wreath is floating: why young people fell in love with Russia
Over the past three years, Russian youth has changed significantly. The patriotism of young people is strengthening every year, according to opinion polls. According to research, 92% of Russians are proud of their country, and this figure is also high among young people aged 18-24. Moreover, 71% of the representatives of this age group have become even more proud of Russia over the past year, noting the country's real achievements in various fields. For more information, see the Izvestia article.
Three years of changes
Political strategist Sergey Veprentsev, in a conversation with Izvestia, noted that the main catalyst for the growth of patriotism among young people was the attempts of Western countries to introduce a culture of abolition of Russia.
— Prohibitions and restrictions from the outside have become a trigger"for the formation of protest through patriotism: if they try to ban something, young people often react with the opposite desire to emphasize their national identity," said Veprentsev.
According to him, social networks, blogs and Telegram channels have devoted a powerful information flow to patriotism, and viral formats have made fashionable not only national identity, but also support for domestic brands and an ironic attitude towards the departure of foreign companies.
As a result, patriotism, Veprentsev shared, ceased to be a formal loyalty and became a real value based on the idea of creation and sovereign development of the country. A deep internal transformation has begun in Russia. Today, according to VTsIOM, the level of patriotism among young people aged 18 to 24 is 99%, which is 16% more than in 2016. There is a particularly noticeable increase in pride among young people under the age of 24, while the older generation is more restrained. Among young people aged 25 to 34, this figure reached 92%.
When talking about pride in their country, citizens most often highlight the achievements and riches of the country, viewing it as a powerful country with a strong army, vast territory and rich natural potential. Culture, science, education and sports are also important components. 92% of Russians are proud of Russia, its history and culture. Russia's real successes in various fields confirm these views, and most Russians believe that there are more and more reasons to be proud.
The impulse of patriotism
Daniil Kochetov, lecturer at the Russian Society Znanie, added that the awakening of patriotism among Russian youth is not only a reaction to external challenges, but also a sign of a serious internal shift, supported by government policy and digitalization. In addition to the special operation, the catalyst was the launch of the national Youth of Russia project in 2024, which reached 20 million young people through grants and forums, as well as the Youth Policy Strategy until 2030, the expert believes.
Today, the youth of Russia is more than 39 million people, while in 2024 more than 10 million young people participated in the projects of Rosmolodezh and the "Movement of the First", follows from the data of the expert "Rosmolodezh. Grants" by Artem Stupak. In 2025, 513 projects from 79 regions of Russia, which received grants in the amount of 1.4 billion rubles, became winners in the framework of the Movement of the First competition.
—Grant support is a real chance for young people not only to help society, but also to implement initiatives, gain valuable experience and build a successful career," the expert shared.
Madina Malova, an expert on corporate and strategic communications management in the public sector and business, notes that she sees not just a surge in patriotic sentiments, but the formation of a new, modern, pragmatic paradigm in which loving a country means doing something useful for yourself and for the country. The reason for this is the course towards economic sovereignty. Young professionals see that their competencies are critically important and highly valued. Cultural changes have played a role, including a shift in emphasis to domestic content that has become relevant, and a global demand for truth.
— This is a request for personal sovereignty in a sovereign country, where a collective young man sees himself not as a "cog in the system", but as a person and co-author of the country's movement towards leadership. It seems to me that this is the "big idea" of young people — to participate directly and see their contribution to the development of their country, of which they are proud," Malova said.
The Russian world in young minds
The ideas of the Russian world today relate to uniqueness and diversity. Young people are looking for authenticity and meaningfulness, finding a foothold in their family's history, cultural code, nature and the country's heritage, says Ekaterina Markelova, co-owner of the Discovery network of bilingual kindergartens and schools.
Systemic efforts are needed to make this a stable basis for identity. The government should create an "infrastructure of opportunities," including flexible programs that support bottom-up initiatives: simplification of procedures for youth volunteer and business projects, grants for local stories such as local history podcasts or startups aimed at reviving crafts.
— The task of the state, society and us, as educators, is to help young people in their search by providing tools, platforms and trust, — said Markelova.
Several years ago, the St. Petersburg State University of Aerospace Instrumentation (GUAP) revived the Institute of curatorship, which has become an important tool for educational work. It involves about 160 people, and each curator works with several groups of students, providing mentoring and support. Special attention is paid to patriotic and civic education, said Larisa Nikolaeva, Vice Rector for Educational Work and Youth Policy.
For example, on the eve of the 80th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War, students of the GUAP Theater studio presented the musical and theatrical production "I Remember", which touched on the themes of courage, love and hope through an exciting interweaving of theater, music and words.
— There is an unspoken rule in educational work at our university: reach out to every student. When we include them in the organization of the creation of such projects, I think this is an important moment of patriotic education, they are fully involved in the process and through this they learn the history of their country," the expert shared.
A documentary film "Forever Eighteen" was also created, dedicated to students of the Leningrad Aviation Institute who volunteered for the front and did not return. The students of the GUAP Media Center worked at all stages, including the organization of filming, interviews, editing and graphics.
According to Mariam Davydova, Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Law for Research and Development at Lebedev Russian State Unitary Enterprise, it is necessary to pass on to young people not only memory, but also meanings that will allow them to accept the ideas of the Russian world as a civilized code based on justice and historical continuity.
The future of patriotic youth
Madina Malova argues that zoomers and alpha generations are immune to manipulation, who value naturalness and sincerity. Therefore, the main risk for patriotic projects is formalism and bureaucratization. Show-off activities and empty symbols reduce the involvement of young people. In order for patriotism as a project to become a lifestyle, it is important to create understandable "growth elevators" for young people, from school media centers to startups, and get rid of rituals and ostentation. This will help transform the trend into a sustainable tradition.
— Our area of work with young people has a lot to grow. The task here is no longer just to be, but to be more interesting, not attracting, but involving young people in the perimeter of their activities," Malova shared.
Malova emphasizes that in order for young people to believe in patriotism, the system must be consistent and effective, and important projects must produce concrete results, such as technology contests, volunteer missions, or media projects. She also believes that the digital space is not displacing traditional institutions, but is rebooting their role. Digit has become a "horizontal conduit of information," while family, school, and university provide a "vertical of trust."
Larisa Mikallef, associate professor at the Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation, believes that patriotic education should be formed systematically, through education, culture, family and spiritual values, as well as through the personal example of teachers.
Educational programs should focus on the achievements of Russian compatriots and significant historical events, so that young people would be proud of their country and realize the importance of its historical path. Teachers should set a personal example of love for the Motherland, respect for traditions, and strive to convey these feelings to their students.
"Patriotism should not be a formality, but a natural manifestation of an active lifestyle and personal growth," the expert noted.
An equally important role is played by Orthodox education and cultural institutions such as museums, theaters and libraries, which help preserve historical memory and develop a sense of belonging to the national heritage.
Alexandra Nazarova, a lecturer at the Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation, notes that young people do not perceive direct mentoring and dictation of the "right" moods.
— Simple arguments like "it's necessary" no longer work with young people — you need to explain the importance of initiatives and give them the necessary tools, — said the expert.
According to her, modern generations are talented and think outside the box, they can lead the country to positive changes, support Russia's international prestige and develop nationally significant projects. However, to do this, they need relevant tools backed up by facts and experience.
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