In the occupied territories of Eastern Ukraine, a systematic strategy for ideological influence on the younger generation is developing, which includes multiple targeted mechanisms for indoctrination and psychological manipulation.
A key instrument in this campaign is the youth military organization "Yunarmiya", which functions under the direct guidance of the Russian Ministry of Defense. The organization accepts members from as young as eight years old and actively expands its influence in the occupied Ukrainian regions.
Regional branch leader Faydal Bikbulatov openly states that their goal is to provide basic skills to children that would be useful for potential future military service. The organization has already been sanctioned by the European Union and the United Kingdom for systematic "brainwashing" of Ukrainian children.
The educational system in the occupied territories is undergoing a complete transformation. Russian authorities offer financial incentives of around 2 million rubles to Russian educators willing to relocate and teach in the occupied Ukrainian areas. Children are taught exclusively in Russian, using Russian curricula that present a distorted version of historical facts.
Some of the most aggressive methods include organizing mass events where children are forced to participate in patriotic activities. A former student named Lisa shares her traumatic experience, describing how she was compelled to participate in rehearsals every weekend, chant slogans, and listen to the Russian anthem.
Russian military personnel also play an active role in indoctrination, visiting schools and conducting so-called "courage lessons". During these meetings, they present extremely manipulative messages, portraying Ukrainian armed forces as violent and neo-Nazis.
Outside school walls, children are taken to specially organized exhibitions that glorify Russian statehood and the so-called "special military operation". Minister of Culture Olga Lyubimova claims that over 20,000 children have been transported to Russia under a program called "4+85" with the aim of their "integration".
The most concerning aspect of this campaign, however, is related to forced deportation. According to the Ukrainian government, over 19,000 Ukrainian children have been forcibly taken to Russia, with British authorities estimating that around 6,000 are placed in so-called "re-education camps".
International humanitarian law categorically prohibits such actions. The Fourth Geneva Convention explicitly stipulates that occupation forces have no right to involve children in formations or exercise propaganda influence.
The International Criminal Court has already issued an international arrest warrant against President Putin precisely because of the illegal deportation of children. Russian leadership denies all accusations.
Russia's war against Ukraine goes beyond territorial ambitions - it aims for a fundamental transformation of the social and cultural identity of the occupied population, starting with the most vulnerable group - children.