Storming of Azovstal: A Propaganda Cyber Tournament for Teenagers Will Be Held in Russia.

A cyber tournament will take place in Moscow, where virtual dungeons of the 'Azovstal' plant in Mariupol will be stormed. These competitions will be held with the support of state institutions and will be aimed at teenagers aged 16-18. This was reported by the Center for Countering Disinformation. It is noted that Russia continues to actively encourage the use of video games and esports to reinforce its own militarization among children and teenagers. According to the Center, the game 'Squad 22: ZOV', in which the 'storming of Azovstal' will take place, is part of the ideological propaganda toolkit and also one of the elements of preparation for service in the Russian armed forces. The organizers announce prizes for those who successfully complete the game. The Center for Countering Disinformation also notes that the Russian authorities systematically develop esports but use it as an effective tool for spreading hatred towards Ukrainians, justifying the war, and the militarization of children. Recently, the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Oleksandr Syrskyi, reported on a new stage of Russia's offensive. It is important not to confuse words about Sumy region and Kharkiv region with the specific cities of Sumy and Kharkiv. Russian public pages circulated a video with Ukrainian soldiers who, according to them, found themselves surrounded by the Russian Federation in the Kursk region. However, the Center for Countering Disinformation refuted this propaganda and stated that there is no encirclement of Ukrainian soldiers in Kursk.