Ukrainian Children Forced into Weapon Training and Torture by Russia

The Systematic Abduction and Indoctrination of Ukrainian Children

Over 19,000 Ukrainian children have been forcibly relocated to Russia since the invasion in 2022, according to a recent report. These children have faced various forms of abuse, including military training, sexual violence, and detention in camps. The findings are based on 200 documented cases of children who have recently returned from Russian territory.

The report highlights that 41% of these children were forced to participate in weapons training or join paramilitary groups like Yunarmiya. Another 39% were displaced to remote locations in Russia, Crimea, or Belarus. Additionally, 17% were detained in filtration camps or police stations, while 10% experienced torture or cruel treatment.

Evidence gathered by War Child UK and Save Ukraine suggests that one of Putin’s long-term goals is to encourage or force Ukrainian children into the Russian armed forces and have them fight against their own country. In response, the Foreign Office has sanctioned eight individuals and three organizations for their involvement in the deportations, calling the actions “despicable.”

Psychologists who spoke with the children found that 6% reported experiencing or witnessing conflict-related sexual violence, including threats of rape, forced undressing, and testimonies of minor girls being raped by camp supervisors.

One such child, Kseniia, was separated from her younger brother, Serhii, during the Russian occupation of their hometown, Vovchansk. Both orphans, Serhii was sent to a children's camp called Medvezhonok, while Kseniia was pressured into attending a state-mandated trade school. Her lessons aimed to erase her Ukrainian identity, while Serhii was eventually placed with a Russian foster family who told him his country had been destroyed and that his sister had abandoned him.

Similar to other Ukrainian children, Serhii faced bullying and humiliation at school, leading him to stop sending messages to Kseniia. He described mandatory lessons where they sang the Russian national anthem and learned that Russia was the best country in the world. This indoctrination was part of a broader effort to reshape the children’s identities.

The report found that 55% of abducted children were subjected to pro-Russian indoctrination, including bans on the Ukrainian language and revised history lessons. Some children were even manipulated into joining paramilitary groups in exchange for better grades or the promise of avoiding military draft papers.

Families were often tricked into allowing their children to attend summer camps, only to find them subjected to intense military training. One 16-year-old girl said, “Every day felt like we were being shaped into something we weren’t. They didn’t treat us like kids. They wanted us to behave like their soldiers.”

An anonymous mother described how Russian troops began punishing families who did not comply with their demands. She recounted a horrifying scene where a pit, rods, chains, and electric shocks were used as tools of torture in her village school.

The deportation, indoctrination, and militarization of Ukrainian children is considered the largest campaign of child rights violations in Europe since the end of the Yugoslav wars. Despite efforts to reunite families, many children remain under Russian control, with some receiving draft papers to join the military.

While the Ukrainian government has confirmed 19,546 cases of forcible transfers, Yale University estimates the actual number to be around 35,000. Kseniia, now studying journalism, hopes to share her story and give a voice to those still trapped in Russia.

Helen Pattinson, CEO of War Child UK, emphasized the need for immediate action to return these children to their homes. She stressed that protecting children in conflict is a fundamental obligation under international law.

With Putin increasing the budget for patriotic education from $50 million in 2022 to $459 million in 2025, NGOs and think tanks warn that Ukrainian children are being deliberately targeted. Mykola Kuleba, CEO of Save Ukraine, highlighted the scale of the crisis, stating that 1.6 million Ukrainian children are being held as hostages.

Nathaniel Raymond, Executive Director at Humanitarian Research Lab, called the report critical in understanding Russia's widespread and illegal actions. He urged for the urgent return of these children as a precondition for any peace negotiations.

The Independent remains committed to providing global news and analysis, supporting the independently-minded readers who value its trusted voice and mission to drive positive change.