Russian forces have reportedly been abducting Ukrainian children and exploiting them in military camps as part of a disturbing strategy, as per recent findings. These abducted youths are said to be sent to over 200 camps within Vladimir Putin’s territory, where they are subjected to brutal training activities. Satellite images have captured the children being coerced into constructing drones and other equipment for potential use against Ukraine. The young victims, some as young as eight, are also being compelled to undergo intense training in various combat skills, including fire and naval exercises.
A study conducted by the Yale School of Public Health’s Humanitarian Research Lab (HRL) has shed light on the appalling conditions in these camps. The research indicates that children are being coerced into participating in shooting competitions, grenade throwing exercises, tactical medicine training, drone operation, and other military tactics. The HRL report, presented to the United Nations Security Council, exposed instances where children from Donetsk were subjected to airborne training. These activities have been observed at approximately 40 of the 210 identified sites, which include summer camps, monasteries, and sanatoriums.
Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Mariana Betsa condemned the exploitation of these children as a war crime, emphasizing the violation of international humanitarian law. Betsa expressed outrage at Russia’s utilization of vulnerable children for military purposes, describing it as barbaric. These atrocities have been ongoing since 2014, with intensified actions following Putin’s initiation of the conflict with Ukraine.
Mariana, a Ukrainian official, highlighted the insidious nature of Russia’s actions, portraying it as a deliberate effort to weaponize Ukrainian children against their own country and Europe at large. This manipulation forms part of Russia’s broader campaign to eradicate Ukrainian identity through the militarization and Russification of Ukrainian youths, as detailed in the report.