The Ukraine War Archive’s new documentary, Children. How Russia Teaches to Fight, highlights Russian efforts to reshape the identities of Ukrainian children in occupied territories, integrating them into the military mindset. Released on YouTube, the film reveals that these children face intense propaganda, militarization, and identity erasure, as Russian authorities impose educational programs aimed at fostering loyalty to Russia.
With around 1.6 million children under 18 in occupied areas, the documentary sheds light on militarized schooling, where children learn weapon handling and engage with Russian military personnel. Notably, after-school organizations like Yunarmiya and the Movement of the First involve hundreds of thousands of kids, often mandating participation under threat of academic penalties.
Ukrainian human rights activists express concerns that these tactics aim to evolve children into soldiers who could potentially fight against Ukraine in the future. As these children grow, they may find it challenging to escape the influence of occupation and maintain ties to their homeland.
The broader implications include fears for over 20,000 Ukrainian children documented as illegally deported by Russia, with only a fraction returned home. The documentary calls attention to the long-term impact of these actions on future generations and the struggle for identity in a post-occupation Ukraine.
