On December 20, Kyiv hosted the presentation of the report titled “Russia’s Youth Policy as a Tool for Destroying Identity in the Temporarily Occupied Territories of Ukraine”, conducted by the "Almenda" Civic Education Center.
The report is the result of research carried out from July to November 2024, analyzing the role of the Russian Federation’s youth policy in the Russification, militarization, and ideological indoctrination of Ukrainian children and youth in the occupied territories.
During the discussion, Oleksandra Dvoretska, Head of Policy at Bring Kids Back UA, emphasized: “Russia’s policy of militarizing Ukrainian children has tangible consequences: children who were school-aged in 2014 have now undergone ideological indoctrination and military training, and are serving in the Russian army, fighting against their own country. Russia does not only attack Ukrainian children with missiles — it attacks their identity and consciousness, committing crimes against them.”
The report reveals the structure of Russia’s youth policy, its main implementation directions, and mechanisms of influence, as well as identifying key figures involved in its execution. Among them are Grigory Gurov, head of Rosmolodezh (Russia’s Federal Agency for Youth Affairs), and Dmitry Chernyshenko, Deputy Prime Minister of Russia, who oversee the implementation of the "Youth and Children" project aimed at militarizing and Russifying youth in the occupied territories of Ukraine.
The event brought together representatives of state institutions, civil society organizations, and international experts to discuss the impacts of Russia’s policy on the temporarily occupied territories and explore ways to counter these threats.
Particular attention during the panel discussions was devoted to the reintegration of youth who have undergone ideological indoctrination. Representatives from the Center for Child Rights Protection, the Prosecutor’s Office of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, Ukraine’s Ministry of Youth and Sports, and the "Almenda" Civic Education Center discussed effective mechanisms for reintegrating affected youth, providing psychological support, and restoring Ukrainian identity.
The report “Russia’s Youth Policy as a Tool for Destroying Identity in the Temporarily Occupied Territories of Ukraine”serves as a foundation for international advocacy and sanctions against those responsible for implementing this policy.