Russia Parades Schoolchildren in Propaganda Shows Marking Annexation of Ukraine’s Occupied Territories

Russia has marked the third anniversary of its illegal annexation of four partially occupied Ukrainian regions with staged patriotic events involving schoolchildren, kindergartners, and public sector employees, the state youth agency Rosmolodyozh announced on October 1.

According to the state agency, around 1.6 million people were mobilized to take part in more than 13,000 commemorations held under the slogan “Thank You, #WeAreTogether.” The phrase echoed Russian leader Vladimir Putin’s words from September 30, 2022, when he declared the annexation of Ukraine’s Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson regions, claiming: “We’re now stronger because we’re together.”

Kyiv has consistently rejected Moscow’s territorial claims, and the annexations are not recognized under international law.

Rosmolodyozh said the program of events included meetings with Russian soldiers returning from Ukraine, video conferences with residents of occupied territories, and humanitarian aid drives for veterans’ families. Footage released by the agency showed young people arranged into the number “89,” a reference to Russia’s official tally of its federal subjects following the 2022 annexations.

Images published by the independent outlet Ostorozhno Novosti revealed students in multiple cities being instructed to form a human “89.” It remains unclear how many of these activities at schools and state institutions were conducted voluntarily, underscoring the Kremlin’s continued use of children and state employees in orchestrated displays of loyalty.

Earlier, Ukrainian experts reported that Russian occupation authorities in Donetsk have placed 48 children in psychiatric hospitals on fabricated charges of so-called “extremism.”

Mariia Krasnenko, an expert with the civic organization Almenda, stated that occupation administrations are systematically persecuting children and young people under the guise of combating extremism.

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