It’s one of the darkest stories to emerge from the war. The Russian regime plans to send 60,000 kidnapped Ukrainian children to remote camps this summer.
These are not holiday camps. They are re-education centers where children are tortured, starved, and forced to abandon their Ukrainian identity, according to Ziare.
The goal is to turn them into tools for Russia’s military future.
The news has sparked global outrage. Human rights groups and world leaders are calling it a form of genocide.
Ukrainian officials say these children are being brainwashed. They are told their parents don’t want them anymore.
They are made to sing the Russian anthem. They are beaten if they refuse to cooperate.
Some of the children were taken from their homes during the Russian invasion. Others were kidnapped from occupied areas and shipped deep into Russia.
Once there, they are kept in harsh conditions. They are isolated. They are forbidden to speak Ukrainian.
They are taught to praise the Russian regime. Some are even forced into military training.
A few managed to escape and shared their stories. One of them is Vitali, a 16-year-old boy who was held in a camp in Crimea.
He said they were made to march every morning and sing for hours. He was told to forget his Ukrainian roots. He was told he now belonged to Russia.
Another story comes from Ilia, an 11-year-old taken from Mariupol. He was held in a “rehabilitation” camp.
There, he was forced to learn Russian. He had to sing “Glory to Ukraine, part of Russia.” He said the punishments were cruel and constant.
Ukraine says about 1.6 million children are now under Russian control in occupied areas.
Zelensky’s adviser, Daria Zarivna, says peace cannot happen until the children come home.
Ukraine’s Human Rights Commissioner, Dmytro Lubynets, called it genocide. He warned this is part of Russia’s plan to raise a new army.
The world must act. These children must be brought back. Their future depends on it.
