Russian Forces Deport Ukrainian Child

Forced Adoption and Patriotism Camp

Russian forces deported Bohdan Yermokhin from the occupied Ukrainian city of Mariupol in the spring of 2022. He was flown to Moscow and placed into a foster family. Yermokhin was then sent to a patriotic camp near the capital, where he was indoctrinated with praise for Russian President Vladimir Putin and taught nationalistic songs.

Russian Passport and Military Recruitment

The Ukrainian teenager was given a Russian passport and placed in a Russian school. Just before his 18th birthday in the fall of 2023, he received a summons from a Russian military recruitment office. Yermokhin believed this was the final step in Russia’s attempt to coerce him into becoming a soldier and fight against his own people.

Resistance and Fears

Yermokhin spoke out against the attempt to recruit him, saying he would fight for his own country, not for the Russians. He was part of a group of children known as the “Mariupol 31,” and Ukrainian authorities estimate that 20,000 children have been forcibly transported to Russia since the country’s invasion in February 2022. More than 2,100 children remain missing.

International Outcry and Human Rights Violations

Arrest Warrant for Russian Officials

In March, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin and the Russian Commissioner for Children’s Rights Maria Lvova-Belova. They were implicated in the abduction and deportation of Ukrainian children. Despite some having guardians or parents, Russia confirmed the transfer of these children, violating the Geneva Conventions and committing war crimes.

Erasing Ukrainian Identity and Mobilizing Forces

Ukraine’s human rights commissioner, Dmytro Lubinets, stated that Russia’s efforts to turn Ukrainian teenagers into soldiers were part of a wider drive to erase the Ukrainian identity and replenish its forces on the front lines. Lubinets revealed that Ukrainian teenagers held in Russia were recruited into the Russian military upon turning 18.

Impact on Deported Children

Poisonous Indoctrination and Vulnerability

Children from socially vulnerable Ukrainian families were the most targeted by the deportation. These children, often orphaned or placed in foster homes, were subjected to Russian propaganda and indoctrination. Mykola Kuleba from the organization Save Ukraine expressed concerns about the long-term impact, as these children were growing up with harmful propaganda, vulnerable to manipulation.

Testing the Boundaries of Identity

Grooming Ukrainian Children as Russian Soldiers

The testimonies of Yermokhin and Artem revealed a disturbing pattern of efforts to turn Ukrainian children into soldiers for Russia. They detailed the coercion, falsified identities, and manipulation of the educational system to erase their Ukrainian identity. These children were exposed to propaganda, forced to wear uniforms, and their loyalty to Ukraine and their families was put to the test.

Returning to Ukraine

Yermokhin and Artem were fortunate to have escaped and return to Ukraine. However, thousands of Ukrainian children remain in Russia, some enrolled in military academies. Save Ukraine has successfully returned 251 children and is actively helping them readjust after their traumatic experiences.