Kremlin actively involves Russian Orthodox Church in reshaping identity of deported Ukrainian children

18.09.2025, 12:48

A recent study conducted by the Yale School of Public Health has identified over 210 facilities in Russia where Ukrainian children, taken from occupied territories, are being held and subjected to re-education. These facilities include a variety of locations such as camps, military bases, and sanatoriums, as well as religious institutions like churches and monasteries.

This was reported by the Telegram channel Christians Against War.

According to the report, children are subjected to militarization programs that include assembling drones, drill training, shooting, and even “air training” at a military base. They learn military history and tactics, and participate in competitions involving grenade throwing and medical training.

Ukraine asserts that Russia has unlawfully taken at least 19,500 children, with the actual number potentially being nearly double that figure. In 2023, the International Criminal Court in The Hague issued arrest warrants for Vladimir Putin and Ombudsman Maria Lvova-Belova for war crimes related to the deportation of these children.

Researchers describe the system as “unprecedented in scale.” Children are held in various regions of Russia and Belarus, with religious sites being used to legitimize and conceal the forced re-education. Ukraine emphasizes that the return of these children must be a central issue in any peace negotiations.

Tags: #Russia #ROC #Russian aggression against Ukraine #State-confessional relations in Russia