Russia’s War on Ukrainian children and identity: Stories from children living under Russian occupation
In a recent breakthrough, 15 Ukrainian children have been returned from Russian-occupied territories in the Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson regions.
Their stories shed light on the horrifying reality faced by thousands of Ukrainian families under occupation.
Russia’s tactics to erase Ukrainian identity and forcibly conscript children into its military are part of a wider campaign of oppression. These personal accounts reveal the heartbreaking challenges Ukrainians endure and the resilience they show in resisting these crimes.
Life Under Occupation: Trauma and Resistance
Under Russian occupation, Ukrainians are subjected to torture, violence, and systemic oppression. Every liberated area has uncovered horrific stories of survivors, laying bare the brutality of the occupation. Children, some of Ukraine’s most vulnerable citizens, are no exception to these tactics.
Russia has been accused of forcibly removing children from their families, sending orphans to live with Russian “caretakers,” and subjecting others to relentless attempts at brainwashing. Ukrainian children are being forced to attend Russian schools, speak only Russian, and abandon their heritage. Older teens are being pressured to join the Russian military.
Stories of Survival
Efforts to bring home Ukraine’s stolen citizens, including nearly 37,000 kidnapped since 2014, have led to significant progress. Organizations like Save Ukraine and Bring Kids Back UA have helped return 538 Ukrainian children to safety.
Here are some of the harrowing accounts from those who lived under occupation:
• Vitalina’s Story
Vitalina gave birth under Russian occupation, and her child was issued Russian citizenship. To protect her baby, she was forced to exchange her Ukrainian passport for a Russian one, living in constant fear of losing her child.
• Marichka’s Ultimatum
Marichka was forced to recite Russian propaganda daily in school. On her 18th birthday, occupiers gave her two options: “Accept Russian identity or leave everything behind and walk away with nothing but water.”
• Kyriloví’s Family
When the occupiers barged into 17-year-old Kyriloví’s home, they handed him a conscription order. As a “new citizen of Russia,” he was told that military service was now mandatory.
• Tamila’s Dilemma
Tamila was told that unless she exchanged her children’s Ukrainian documents for Russian ones and enrolled them in Russian schools, she was “denying them an education.” On the third warning, officials threatened to take her children away.
• Valeriy’s Reality
At just 16, Valeriy described how occupiers prepared students for military service, teaching them to assemble weapons and subjecting them to violent raids. His friend was forced at gunpoint to identify homes where young girls lived.
• Evgenia’s Resistance
At 11 years old, Evgenia was forced into a Russian school that banned creative activities and pushed relentless propaganda. When she refused to write letters of support to Russian soldiers, she was bullied, failed in all subjects, and isolated by the school authorities.
The Fight to Protect Ukraine’s Future
These stories represent only a fraction of the horrors experienced under Russian occupation. Many children may never return to Ukraine, and countless stories of abuse and survival remain untold.
The war crimes committed by Russia are growing, and the worst possible outcome is silence and impunity. The world must listen, amplify these stories, and hold perpetrators accountable.
For more on Ukraine’s mission to locate and return its kidnapped citizens, read this previous post:
👉 Ukraine’s Mission to Bring Home 37,000 Kidnapped Citizens.
Let’s ensure these crimes are not forgotten—and that justice prevails.
This version provides a polished, structured narrative while retaining the emotional gravity of the original. Let me know if you’d like further adjustments!
- The Stolen Ukrainian Children: The russian War Crime Of Erasing Generations
- The Witkoff File: Three Decades of russian Cash, One Kremlin “Peace Plan.”
- Strength Under Fire: Ukrainians Fight So the Future Isn’t Ruled by Tyrants
- 165 Days of Heroism: The Story of Two Ukrainian Soldiers Who Defied the Odds
- The UN Confirms What Ukraine Has Been Saying All Along: Russia Is Committing Crimes Against Humanity
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