russia has turned Crimea into a platform for deporting and altering the identity of Ukrainian children: Olha Kuryshko on the continuity of the russian federation’s policy across all occupied territories

russia continues to implement a systematic policy targeting Ukrainian children on all temporarily occupied territories. The russian federation uses Crimea as a logistical base to relocate children and erase their national identity.

Olha Kuryshko, the Permanent Representative of the President of Ukraine in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, emphasized this during a briefing at Media Center Ukraine.

“What russia has done in Crimea, it is now doing in other temporarily occupied territories. This reflects the continuity of the russian federation’s policy toward children. Crimea is currently being used as a base and stronghold for relocating these children and altering their identity,” she stated.

According to Kuryshko, since the start of the full-scale invasion, the russian federation has significantly increased the militarization of children in the temporarily occupied Crimea. This has been done primarily through the creation of cadet classes, increased participation in the “young army” movement, and other pseudo-patriotic activities. 

“After the full-scale invasion began, the russian federation further prioritized youth organizations, allocating more resources to them. The number of cadet classes and the number of children involved in the “young army” have increased. New movements have emerged, all of which involve children in military activities within educational institutions, including schools and technical colleges, in temporarily occupied Crimea. For example, children are taught to assemble weapons and handle firearms,” she explained.

Children’s events on the temporarily occupied peninsula also have a distinctly military character.

“There are military-themed parks where children can ride russian tanks. Wearing military uniforms is actively encouraged and promoted, especially among children. Children are increasingly involved in events resembling military training camps,” Kuryshko added.

She also reported fatal cases involving children with medical contraindications who were forcibly enrolled in military activities.

“We already have cases of deaths when children were forced to participate despite physical contraindications. For example, an 11-year-old boy in Crimea with heart problems was forced to perform his assigned tasks and subsequently died. This happened in 2023. There are other cases that are less publicized, but we are monitoring the situation,” said Olha Kuryshko.

Read more: https://mediacenter.org.ua/news