DIU: Russia forcibly militarizes Ukrainian children in occupied territories

DIU: Russia forcibly militarizes Ukrainian children in occupied territories

The Russian occupation authorities systematically impose militaristic propaganda on Ukrainian children in temporarily occupied territories.

This was stated by a representative of the Defence Intelligence of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine, Andriy Chernyak.

According to him, the so-called "Yunarmiya" and other "patriotic" organizations created by the Kremlin have become tools of ideological pressure.

Participation in these structures is effectively mandatory — if a child refuses to join, their parents come under pressure. They are deemed "unreliable," summoned to occupation "authorities," and in schools, "educational" work is conducted with the children, aimed at fostering loyalty to Russia.

"If your child does not become a member of this ’Yunarmiya’ or some other ’patriotic’ organization, then work is done with the parents. They are summoned to the ’authorities,’ and in school, ’educators’ work with the child to force them to become a patriot of ’great Russia,’" Chernyak explained.

The goal of this propaganda, according to the representative of the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine, is the complete erasure of Ukrainian identity in children and the formation of a "conscious" desire in them to fight in the ranks of the Russian army.

The intensified militarization of children in the occupied territories is yet another proof of Russia’s criminal policy aimed at destroying the Ukrainian people and their culture.