Russian Forces in Occupied Ukrainian Territories Force Children to Donate for Soldiers’ Gifts

According to the National Resistance Center (NRC), Russian forces on temporarily occupied territories (TOT) in Ukraine continue to involve children in propaganda activities.

In schools on occupied parts of Kherson region, young students were reportedly made to craft decorations, such as garlands, and write poems for Russian forces. Additionally, parents were compelled to contribute financially towards purchasing gifts for Russian military personnel.

The NRC highlights that Russian propagandists frame these activities as voluntary initiatives by the children themselves. This approach aims to exploit minors for propaganda while simultaneously attempting to alter their self-identity by glorifying occupying forces.

The Center also calls for residents to report information about educators who assist in organizing such events, emphasizing the role these individuals play in facilitating the Russian forces' agenda of reshaping children’s sense of identity.

Earlier, reports revealed that Russia’s Yunarmia  program in temporarily occupied territories, initially presented as extracurricular, now prepares Ukrainian children for potential combat roles. Investigations by Ukraine’s Prosecutor General indicate widespread militarization and propaganda, with over 29,000 children involved in Crimea alone and multiple war crimes against children documented.