A completely different generation: young Russians are growing up to be patriots

On August 19, 2025, the All-Russian Pedagogical Congress will be held at the Rossiya National Center, which will bring together 1,200 representatives of the pedagogical community, science, government and business. The agenda of the event includes a discussion of not only educational, but also educational processes. The results of this comprehensive work are already obvious: a generation is growing up in Russian schools and universities who sincerely love their country and associate their future with it. Details can be found in the Izvestia article.

Positive results

The attitude of children, teenagers and young people towards Russia, its history and culture today is radically different from what it was just 10-15 years ago. And this is, of course, the merit of the work of teachers and mentors in the field, but also the natural results of the purposeful policy of the state to form a civic consciousness among the younger generation. "Talking about important things," weekly flag—raising ceremonies in schools, federal patriotic education programs - all this forms a conscious attitude towards the history and values of the country among the younger generation.

Today, the share of patriots among young people aged 18-24 is 99%: according to VTSIOM, this figure has increased by 16% since 2016. Even foreign sociologists confirm that the number of young people in Russia who believe that things are going in the right direction is steadily growing. From April to July 2025 alone, this figure increased by 13% to 73%. It is significant that the same number of young people aged 18-24 declare their support for the actions of the Russian Armed Forces. And the same number, according to Thomas, are sure that we live in a free country.

"The boom of patriotic sentiments among young people is not a short—term event, but a steady trend. It was influenced by many factors: the development of the education and upbringing system, ideological changes in society, the formation of new opportunities for self-realization. According to my estimates, emigration sentiment among young people is at a historic low today. The same can be said about the protest potential. In general, this is an assessment of the entire system of youth policy in Russia.: She is working and coping with her tasks," says political analyst Pyotr Kolchin.

Schoolchildren choose their Homeland

Modern schoolchildren demonstrate an unprecedented patriotic attitude towards their country. Sociologists say that 97% of them are proud of Russia, and one in two began to feel this pride even more strongly over the past year. Among teenagers aged 12-18, the vast majority are satisfied with life in the country (83%), and 91% associate their future with their Homeland: they want to live, develop and work here. And this is not surprising: the vast majority of Russians believe that all conditions have been created in the country and in their region for the self-realization of young people.

Students also have a positive attitude towards educational innovations: according to research, 88% have a positive attitude towards the solemn ceremony of raising the flag and singing the Russian national anthem. Five years ago, when this practice was first introduced in schools, there were only 17% of such young people.

Thanks to numerous projects, young Russians can learn new skills, realize their creative and personal potential, and create the basis for a successful future. Russia is a Land of Opportunities, the Movement of the First, Znanie and Rosmolodezh open doors to science, entrepreneurship, creativity and volunteerism for young people.

The main thing is that this process proceeds naturally, without imposition. Schoolchildren and students themselves come to a conscious choice in favor of Russia, its values and traditions. And this is perhaps the most important result of all the educational work of recent years. For example, the vast majority of schoolchildren who joined the "Movement of the First" said in a VTSIOM study that they would rather recommend their friends to follow their example (93%).

"For young people, self-determination and career building have always been among the most difficult issues. Who should I become? How to build your future? Today, the government helps young people to build a professional growth trajectory, and this process begins already at school. Career guidance classes, projects of the "Movement of the First", ANO "Russia — the land of opportunities" help talented children from all over the country to express and realize themselves. Modern youth understands that with proper perseverance, all doors are open to them. For real specialists and people who devote themselves to their work, Russia is truly a land of opportunity," confirms political analyst Danila Gureev.

Political analyst Kolchin agrees with this opinion, stating that the rose-colored glasses of Western propaganda have been removed and trampled on: young people clearly see that they can best realize their aspirations and ideas here in their homeland. "It's immediately clear if you talk to guys from all over the country," the expert adds.

For example, Elizaveta Laguta, a participant in the Territory of Meanings 2025 forum from Tver, is confident that Russian priorities and values are already becoming fashionable and trending not only within the country, but also around the world. "We are successfully coping with this. I consider the values defined by the President in Decree No. 809 to be correct. The value of family especially resonates with me," she explains.

Alina Shcherbakova, a 19-year-old volunteer from the Volgograd Region, considers it her duty to make a personal contribution to the development of her native country. "There are many opportunities in our beautiful Russia, it is developing. And why not participate in this process and help it flourish and contribute to the great future of our Motherland?" — she declares.

Zoomers: they don't talk, they do

Modern youth consciously chooses the path of service to the country and society. According to a survey conducted by VTsIOM and Znanie, 92% of zoomers expressed their willingness to help their Homeland in case of a serious threat, and this is the highest figure among all generations.

According to political scientist and public figure Alexei Yaroshenko, today's youth are increasingly linking their life strategies with the development of the state, showing a willingness to take responsibility, defend their Homeland, and defend the historical truth. We are dealing with a value orientation that is not focused on consumption, but on participation, whether it is volunteerism, social initiatives or a willingness to professional self-realization within the country, the expert adds.

"Today's Russian youth demonstrates a fundamentally different perception of the country. If the key issues for the generation of the 1990s were the loss of trust in the state and the search for new identification grounds, then teenagers and young people aged 12-18 are being formed in an environment where Russia is already acting as an independent and influential global player. According to my observations, this is exactly the feeling that is present in their mass consciousness: the vast majority of teenagers are convinced that Russia today has a significant influence in the world," Yaroshenko explains.