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DECEMBER 2012 BACK ISSUE The Crimea-Sich is a young Cossacks' military-patriotic camp. The camp is located in a beautiful part of Crimea, in the canyon of a medieval fortress town called Eski-Kerman surrounded on all sides by mountains and forests. Within the camp, there is; a field kitchen, morning exercise, hand-to-hand fighting of Kadochnikova, combat training, walks in the mountains and forest, target shooting and climbing training. The camp is divided into the 3 military units, so that whilst two are training, one is always on duty. Children between the ages of 7 and 16 years live and train at the camp. Experienced, adult military Officers teach the children everything they know.  The child soldiers also receive a strict eligious education.  As one of the Officers said, "If we train them to kill but don't give attention to spiritual training, we educate an ordinary killer and not a defender of the Motherland". by Maxim Dondyuk A 7 year old boy on night patrol. Night combat training in the mountains. A boy repairing a tent after a night of storms. A morning exercise. A morning run. Boys bathe in the pond. Each day boys go to the forest for firewood. In the camp the boys prepare to eat. Boys play the guitar in the rain. Instruction before the military exercises. The boys practice their shooting skills by firing at targets. Boys throw knifes at a target. A boy chops firewood. Boys play chess. Each night, boys on duty are given a helmet, bulletproof vest and submachine gun for the patrol. A boy on night patrol.
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