Ukrainian children forced to glorify Russian soldiers in Crimea

In the annexed Crimea, the occupiers have launched a propaganda project that introduces Ukrainian children to the participants of Russian aggression. Its goal is to impose a cult of violence and loyalty to the occupation authorities on schoolchildren.

This was reported by the Crimean Tatar Resource Center.

In the occupied Akmesdzhit (Simferopol), the Russian administration has launched a new propaganda project called "Heroes of Russia - the Pride of Crimea".

According to the report, the initiative is dedicated to the participants of World War II and the so-called "heroes of the special military operation" - actual participants in the Russian aggression against Ukraine. It is planned to cover all schools in Crimea: special expositions with photos of the military will be created in educational institutions, along with QR codes with their biographies.

In this way, children in the temporarily occupied territories are again involved in war propaganda, imposing the cult of violence, glorification of the occupiers and loyalty to them.

The Crimean Tatar Resource Center emphasized that such actions are another manifestation of militarization and propaganda among Ukrainian children in the temporarily occupied territories and grossly violate international humanitarian law, which prohibits the use of children for military and propaganda purposes.

According to the UK Ministry of Defense, the Russian authorities have illegally transferred more than 19,500 children from Ukraine to Russia and occupied Crimea. According to other sources, this figure may reach 35,000. About six thousand children were placed in a network of so-called re-education camps, and upon reaching adolescence, in military training centers.

In the temporarily occupied Crimea, Russians also use the Artek children's camp as a propaganda platform. Children are assembling drones, weaving camouflage nets, making trench candles, and raising money for medicines. Children are forced to spend time making material aid for the Russian army.

Анна Бальчінос