What really happens to Ukrainian children whose lives are being stolen by Russia? 

Together with War Child UK and the Human Security Centre, we have published a joint report based on 200 testimonies of children Save Ukraine rescued from Russia and the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine. 

For the first time, these children tell the world — in their own words — what life in captivity looks like: indoctrination, forced military training, abuse, and the systematic erasure of Ukrainian identity. 

Key Findings: 

• 55% of children were subjected to pro-Russian indoctrination — including mandatory propaganda lessons, banned use of the Ukrainian language, and enforced “loyalty” rituals. 

• 41% reported militarisation: weapons training, forced drills, and recruitment into Kremlin-run youth movements like Yunarmiya. 

• 30% were sent to so-called “camps” where they were forced to fire live ammunition and grenades. 

• 10% of children experienced torture; 6% reported sexual violence. 

• 1 in 5 children was separated from their families or denied access to basic medical care. 

🗣️ “They didn’t treat us like kids. They wanted us to behave like their soldiers.” — 16-year-old girl from Kherson 

🗣️ “Every Monday we raised the Russian flag. Teachers kept repeating: ‘Ukraine started the war. Russia is protecting us.’” — 18-year-old boy from Luhansk 

Why this report matters 

These are not isolated cases. More than 1.6 million Ukrainian children are now trapped behind a modern “Iron Curtain,” effectively being held hostage by the Russian state — either in occupied territories or inside Russia itself. 

Behind this barrier, children are systematically subjected to indoctrination and militarisation—trained for combat roles and coerced into structures that amount to state-sponsored human trafficking. 

This is the first report to document these grave violations through the personal testimonies of the children themselves. It reveals a state-sponsored strategy by Russia to erase Ukrainian identity and transform children into instruments of war. 

📥 Read the full report: 

Return_Every_Child_Report_WCUK

Save Ukraine-War Child REC Research Press Release.docx

📌 Published by War Child UK in partnership with Save Ukraine and the Human Security Centre. This is not just a war crime — it is a war on childhood. 

We will not stop until every child is home — and the truth is heard.