Russia develops a network of reeducation camps for Ukrainian children – reports

Source: Regional Center for Human Rights/Facebook

Investigation by Ukraine’s Regional Center for Human Rights has identified the locations of Russian “reeducation camps”  for Ukrainian children.  At least, 13 such facilities have been found in occupied Ukrainian territory, 18 in Belarus, and 67 in Russia.

The growing number of such ‘reformation’ estalishments comes as a blatant attempt to “erase national identity, forcibly assimilate Ukrainian children” turning them into a tool for “Russia’s geopolitical objectives”.

Promoted as camps for children’s “recreation” or “rehabilitation”, they subject children to “intense propaganda fostering loyalty to their new homeland.”  Children are also taught military skills in line with the standards of conscript soldier training.

In 2024, Russia’s goverment has reportedly increased funding of such camps by 11.6% compared to last year – it now stands at 76.8 billion rubles. According to statements from the occupation administrations, at least 40,000 Ukrainian children were sent to these “reeducation camps” during the summer of 2024 as part of the “Useful Vacations” project—almost twice as many as the previous year. Children from the occupied territories visited Moscow, St. Petersburg, Rostov-on-Don, and Tula as part of programs like “Cultural Map 4+85,” “Youth Route,” and “University Shifts.”

Moscow is actively expanding its network of “reeducation camps” in the occupied Ukrainian regions – it even opened a branch of the occupied “Artek” camp in Berdyansk, Zaporizhzhia region. Another factor that contributes to ‘militarization’ of Ukrainian children is activities of “Akhmat” Peoples’ Friendship Academy and the “Warrior” center, led by Chechen goverment.  Chechen officials launched a  program called “Heroes’ Hour,” that sees Ukrainian children taught to shoot rifles, parachute, operate drones, and lay mines.

Human rights activists believe that such political indoctrination and militarization are international crimes that demand more decisive action.