A recent report has uncovered the disturbing situation in which Russia is forcibly “re-educating” around 20,000 children taken from Ukraine. Many of these children are being coerced into participating in military training activities.
Investigators have identified over 200 locations, including cadet schools, military bases, and various facilities, that are part of a large-scale effort to transfer tens of thousands of Ukrainian children to Russia. Some of these sites are reportedly engaged in systematic re-education practices, with military training observed at 40 locations, involving ceremonial parades, combat drills, and the handling of drones and other equipment.
The release of the report has elicited strong reactions from top Ukrainian officials. Andriy Yermak, Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, emphasized the vulnerability of children in armed conflicts and called for immediate action to address the situation. Deputy Foreign Minister Mariana Betsa condemned Russia’s actions, stating that Ukrainian children have been forcibly removed from their families and homes and subjected to re-education and militarization.
The investigation was conducted by the Humanitarian Research Lab at Yale School of Public Health. Executive Director Nathaniel Raymond highlighted the extensive network of facilities controlled by Russia, with at least 210 sites holding Ukrainian children across different regions.
The report, titled ‘Ukraine’s Stolen Children: Inside Russia’s Network of Re-education and Militarisation,’ outlines eight categories of sites where children are being detained, including cadet schools, military bases, medical facilities, religious sites, and educational institutions. The report also notes the presence of re-education activities promoting pro-Russian narratives at most of the identified locations.
The findings underscore the urgent need for Russia to return the Ukrainian children to their homeland and address the humanitarian crisis unfolding as a result of their actions.
