Children abducted from the occupied south are being trained to fight in the Russian army

The occupiers are using abducted Ukrainian children as a strategic resource, spending billions of rubles on their Russification and militarization. In the occupied territories and within the Russian Federation, even schoolchildren aged 10–12 are being trained in military skills, UAV operation, and the use of weapons.

Kateryna Rashevska, a lawyer with the non-governmental organization “Regional Center for Human Rights,” spoke about this on Radio Charter.

Russia pays particular attention to middle and high school-aged children. According to the expert, schoolchildren are caught in the most brutal and toxic grind. 

“We’ve noticed that while previously the focus was mainly on older teenagers, ages 14–18, now even children aged 10–12 are being targeted by the Russians—children who are already capable of laying mines, clearing minefields, run with automatic rifles, lie in ambush, and operate unmanned aerial vehicles,” Rashevska noted.

According to her, Ukraine has so far identified by name 20,610 deported or forcibly displaced children, but in reality their number may turn out to be significantly higher. Despite existing individual international initiatives, there is currently no single mechanism that would allow for the simultaneous return of all children. An individualized rescue operation is being developed for each child, involving government agencies and civil society organizations. 

Previously, theoccupyingauthorities planned to make changes to the school curriculum and the organization of the educational process in the temporarily occupied territories. Starting September 1, a course titled “Spiritual and Moral Culture of the Russian Federation” will be introduced in schools in the temporarily occupied territories.

This new subject is aimed at imposing Russian“skrep”(values), religious and ideological concepts, and a distorted interpretation of history and traditions.

In addition, the course “Fundamentals of Homeland Security and Defense” will be divided into two separate components—“life safety” and basic militarytraining.”

Юлія Калабайда