Overseas delegates to the World Youth Festival 2024 were overwhelmingly positive about their impressions of Russia, as they took part in the events at the Sirius Federal Territory on Sunday.

"Russia is our second favourite country and we stand with Russia and we love you. Thank you!"

said one student from Syria.

Footage also shows participants dressed in national costumes, dancing and singing Russian folk song 'Katyusha' - about a young woman and her love for a soldier serving to protect the Motherland.

Another festival attendee from Zimbabwe said he was left with a better understanding of Russian life, and would tell others about the benefits he had seen.

"At the same time this has made our young Zimbabweans together understand more about Russia out there, the way it’s marketed, especially now with the conflict that is within the region," he said. "People think that there is chaos, yeah, but now we’ve understood that everything is in order in Russia and those that probably would want to visit are free to visit."

"So, the message: when you go back home, when you actually go back to Africa and Zimbabwe in particular, we’re going to preach good things about Russia, the level of organisation, the ideology that the leadership is bringing to the youth, especially them understanding that Russia belongs to Russians," he continued.

The World Youth Festival takes place on March 1-7. According to the organisers, it intends to develop international youth co-operation and bring together 20,000 young people. The regional programme will take place on March 10-17, during which the participants will visit 30 Russian cities.

The Sirius 'Innovation Science and Technology Centre' is the first federal territory in Russia located on the Black Sea coast near the city of Sochi.