Russia Subjects Ukrainian Children in Occupied Zaporizhzhia to Military Training

Children from the temporarily occupied regions of Zaporizhzhia have undergone military training organized by Russian forces, as confirmed by Ukrainian Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets.

Lubinets reported that monitoring of pro-occupation social media revealed Russian “instructors” teaching children how to handle firearms and practice shooting from various positions. He stated, “Ukrainian children are becoming instruments in Russia’s larger game, where childhood no longer matters.”

Russian forces are reportedly forcing Ukrainian children to wear military uniforms and march under Russian flags. Ombudsman says that occupation authorities have initially recruited these children into militarized “patriotic” movements, such as Yunarmiya and cadet classes, to instill a mindset of hatred toward everything Ukrainian and loyalty to Russian interests.

Lubinets emphasized that this militarization constitutes a serious violation of children’s rights. He called on the international community to take more active measures against Russia, asserting that “evil must be punished.” This situation highlights the urgent need for global attention and action to protect the rights of children in occupied territories.