Russian-Occupied Kherson Sends Children to Russia for Military Training Disguised as Education.

Ukrainian Children Taken to Russia for Military Drills

According to UATV: In a concerning development, the Russian-installed administration in Ukraine's Kherson region is organizing the transfer of Ukrainian children to Russia for military training, falsely presenting these activities as educational programs. A recent group of 24 teenagers was taken to Volgograd, where they attended a camp called 'Avangard'. This practice is part of a broader pattern of actions condemned by international bodies since Russia's full-scale invasion began in 2022.

The training curriculum at the camp included:

• operating drones;
• military specializations;
• tactical training;
• elements of cyber-attacks.

Children are selected for this program through their schools under administrative pressure. This has raised significant alarm among parents and human rights defenders, as it constitutes the direct involvement of minors in military activities.

These programs are being implemented under the authority of Vladimir Saldo, who heads the occupation administration in Kherson. The forced transfer of children to Russia represents a severe violation of children's rights and has provoked outrage within the international community.

Long-Term Impact on Children

This situation highlights the irreversible consequences of war for children, who become victims of political and military manipulation. Sending teenagers for military training can have profound long-term effects on their development, mental health, and sense of identity.

International organizations, including the UN and various human rights groups, continue to call for urgent action to protect the rights of children caught in conflict zones.