Skrypnyk stressed the importance of halting these abuses, labeling Russia’s actions as international crimes. Specifically, she condemned the propaganda aimed at indoctrinating children to serve in the Russian military, a clear violation of the Geneva Convention that prohibits such actions by an aggressor state.

New Russification wave

The United Nations reports that since the full-scale invasion began in February 2022, around 2.8 million Ukrainians have been deported, including potentially 200–300 thousand children.

The Ukrainian government and NGOs believe the occupiers aim to erase the children’s Ukrainian identity and assimilate them to mitigate Russia’s demographic crisis. Additionally, there’s a significant effort to militarize these children, preparing them as future combatants against Ukraine.

Russian authorities actively use education and propaganda to justify their invasion and recruit minors into organizations like Yunarmiya, effectively grooming them as future soldiers for the Kremlin.

Crimea has become a focal point for these illegal practices, with children being particularly affected by efforts at militarization, deportations, and political persecution. “We've documented these events and proven a systematic approach by the Russian Federation to militarize children, making them a resource for their war efforts,” Skrypnyk pointed out.

The human impact

The situation has escalated to the point where Russian authorities have officially acknowledged their war against Ukraine, highlighting the need for human resources, particularly from occupied territories.

“This constitutes a large-scale international crime, demanding accountability,” Skrypnyk asserted.

The plight of Ukrainian children underlines the grave human impact of the conflict and the imperative for international action.