Military Training of Children in Occupied Regions
Russian occupiers in the temporarily occupied Luhansk region are using the summer break to give schoolchildren military instruction. According to Oleksiy Kharchenko, head of the Luhansk Regional Military Administration, students from the so-called LNR are being gathered into defense and sports camps. There, children learn tactical and firearms skills, as well as how to operate drones. Some teenagers are even being prepared for sniper roles.
"Children study fire and tactical training, and learn to pilot drones. They are trying to turn some of them into snipers. After finishing school, they will be pressured to join the front lines." — Oleksiy Kharchenko
Alongside this, the occupation authorities are pressing ahead with a property nationalization campaign in these areas. Seventeen real estate assets in Sievierodonetsk have recently been declared ownerless. The list of these assets includes:
- private medical facilities
- pharmacies
- shops
- catering establishments
- other commercial properties
Ukraine’s Foreign Intelligence Service has also reported a systematic militarization of children and young people in Russia and the occupied territories. This effort is part of a larger strategy to build a mobilization reserve and shape future generations that can be drawn into armed conflict. Russian Minister of Science and Higher Education Valery Falkov has stated that the country does not need universal higher education coverage, a remark that may indicate a shift in focus toward military training for youth.
Threats to the Local Population
In the temporarily occupied Luhansk region, the active militarization of children is unfolding alongside a continued property nationalization campaign, sparking concern among local residents and Ukrainian officials alike. These developments highlight the severe impact of occupation on the local population, particularly young people. Training children for combat could produce a new generation pulled into warfare, threatening regional security and stability. Furthermore, the nationalization of assets is part of a broader effort to control the occupied territories’ economy, worsening daily life for locals and demanding international attention and response.