Militarized Playgrounds Emerge In Russia As War Pushed Into Children's Spaces
- By RFE/RL
Playgrounds recently installed across Russia are being constructed with an overtly militarized theme amid the ongoing invasion of Ukraine.
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A playground in Reutov, east of Moscow, features a depiction of a Katyusha rocket artillery system.
The photo is one of several published on June 1 by Russia's Bereg journalistic collective, which highlights the recent appearance of war-themed playgrounds throughout Russia.
The photo is one of several published on June 1 by Russia's Bereg journalistic collective, which highlights the recent appearance of war-themed playgrounds throughout Russia.
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Red Army military hardware is depicted on a merry-go-round in northern Moscow.
War-themed playgrounds began appearing in Russia around 2019 and caused significant debate at the time.
War-themed playgrounds began appearing in Russia around 2019 and caused significant debate at the time.
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A climbing frame depicts World War II scenes and Russia's Moskva missile cruiser, which was sunk in a Ukrainian strike in April 2022.
Since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine and subsequent crackdown on anti-war sentiments in Russia, the debate around militarized playgrounds has largely fallen quiet.
Since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine and subsequent crackdown on anti-war sentiments in Russia, the debate around militarized playgrounds has largely fallen quiet.
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An illustration of a grad rocket artillery system in a playground in St. Petersburg.
An architect who spoke to Bereg described the purpose of war-themed playgrounds as less about appeal to children -- since any specific theme limits the scope of play -- and more about currying favor with the authorities.
An architect who spoke to Bereg described the purpose of war-themed playgrounds as less about appeal to children -- since any specific theme limits the scope of play -- and more about currying favor with the authorities.
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A playground obstacle mimicks a howitzer, emblazoned with the message “Thank you for the victory,” in St. Petersburg.
The architect told a Bereg journalist that "there's a clear desire to slap on pictures and images that serve no purpose but emphasize loyalty to the authorities," she said. "This is clearly not for children, but it might earn praise from the district administration," she added.
The architect told a Bereg journalist that "there's a clear desire to slap on pictures and images that serve no purpose but emphasize loyalty to the authorities," she said. "This is clearly not for children, but it might earn praise from the district administration," she added.
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Children at a playground in Nadym, northern Russia, in June 2025.
The background shows a billboard advertising military contracts and a mural homage to a teenaged Red Army soldier who died in 1944 fighting against Nazi forces in today's Belarus.
The background shows a billboard advertising military contracts and a mural homage to a teenaged Red Army soldier who died in 1944 fighting against Nazi forces in today's Belarus.
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A climbing frame depicting a military helicopter is the centerpiece of a playground in Zelenograd, near Moscow.
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Some rudimentary military-themed play obstacles, such as this apparently handmade tank at a playground in Chita photographed in 2014, had been photographed in Russia before the full-scale invasion. But the appearance of factory-made play structures made with municipal funds has emerged only recently.
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A climbing frame in the shape of a Russian fighter jet in southern Moscow.
