Ukraine's Children Caught Up in the Invasion : Shared by John Gilmartin

Here's something for XUNICEF readers.  This ISW update is describing how Ukrainian children caught up in the invasions, first 2014 taking Crimea, then 2022 taking some of the eastern border territories, are now being turned into Russian soldiers fighting and dying in combat against their homeland.  

This issue seems to get no coverage in the media, nor in UN related reports that I'm aware of.  

A couple points; the war in Ukraine is now twelve years old and rising in intensity every day, the number of children kidnapped or stolen by Russian forces since 2014 still is unknown as well as where these children have been resettled.  

Has UNICEF taken a position on this ongoing criminal behavior?  

Thanks, John 

Russian Deportation of Ukrainian Children and Militarization in Occupied Territories

Author: Institute for the Study of War 

Publication: Institute for the Study of War 

Date: January 30, 2026 URL: Click here for the article

Summary:

The Kherson Oblast occupation administration confirmed it sent nearly 600 children from occupied Kherson Oblast to the "Lan" children's camp in Adygea Republic during 2025, with plans to send more in 2026. The Adygea Republic likely shares a patronage agreement with the Kherson Oblast occupation administration and has used these ties to deport Ukrainian children to summer camps.

The long-term militarization of children in occupied Crimea has resulted in 318 individuals who grew up in Crimea following the 2014 Russian invasion dying in combat while fighting in the Russian Armed Forces. Over 1,800 Ukrainians from occupied Crimea have died fighting in the Russian military since 2022. Russia began systematic institutionalization of its militarization apparatus immediately after the 2014 invasion of Crimea.

The Donetsk Oblast occupation administration is consolidating social and financial services into a single "DNR Resident Card" that will give Russian state-owned bank Promsvyazbank greater control while tying basic services to Russian citizenship. Residents of occupied Volnovakha Raion will be first to receive the card, with availability expanding throughout occupied Donetsk Oblast. Residents must be at least 18 years old and present a Russian passport and SNILS to receive the card.

Quotes:

Adygea Republic Head Murat Kumpilov claimed "the Adygea Republic places special emphasis on the development of children's 'moral qualities.'"

Chairman of the Crimean Tatar Resource Center Eskender Bariev emphasized "Russia exposed these individuals to intense pro-Russian militarization as children, which impacted their decisions to join the Russian military and fight against Ukraine following the full-scale invasion in 2022."