In occupied Ukraine, Russia is trying to indoctrinate the children it stole

In occupied Ukraine, Russia is attempting to brainwash the children it has taken from their homes. At the age of 15, Anastasiia found herself living in a foster home in Kherson when Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022. Worried about the artillery close to her home, she and a friend decided to flee but were stopped at a checkpoint by Russian soldiers.

They were informed that they were "dangerous to their state" and thus, were enrolled in a college where they were exposed to Russian re-education and indoctrination. Anastasiia, now 19, has been moved between Russian foster families in occupied Ukraine and was physically abused at one of her homes. The situation for Ukrainian children under Russian occupation is perilous, with few willing to speak out for fear of retaliation from Russian authorities.

An estimated 1.6 million Ukrainian children are living under occupation, where Russian authorities have implemented indoctrination programs and military training. The United Nations has concluded that Russia is committing crimes against humanity in occupied Ukraine against the civilian population. Ukrainian human rights lawyer Kateryna Rashevska is collecting evidence of war crimes and crimes against humanity from those who have lived under Russian control and taking the cases to the International Criminal Court.

The lawyer claims that Russia's aim is to destroy Ukraine as a sovereign state and subjugate the Ukrainian nation to Russian influence and control, which could be considered genocide.