Preparing Ukrainian children to fight for Russia: leaders of Yunarmiya in occupied Donetsk Oblast served with suspicion notices

Ukrainian law enforcement authorities have served eight leaders of the organised Yunarmiya movement (All-Russian Military Patriotic Social Movement "Young Army") that operated in the temporarily occupied territory of Donetsk Oblast with notices of suspicion. Under the guise of patriotic education, Ukrainian children there were drawn into military training in the interests of Russia.

Overall, members of the group involved around 6,000 Ukrainian children aged between 6 and 18 in training programmes.

Source: Office of the Prosecutor General

Details: The Yunarmiya youth military-patriotic movement was created in Russia back in 2016, and its activities were later expanded to the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine – Crimea, as well as Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson oblasts.

Between 2019 and 2025, participants systematically involved Ukrainian children in military training. Minors were taught how to handle weapons and took part in tactical exercises, military drills and oaths of allegiance to Russia.

"Through propaganda, pseudo-patriotic events and promises of 'social benefits' and career prospects in the Russian Armed Forces, they were deliberately drawn into the military system of the aggressor state. Meanwhile, active propaganda promoted service in the Russian army as a socially advantageous and promising path," law enforcement officials said.

In particular, cases were recorded in which children, after undergoing such training, later joined the ranks of the Russian forces once they turned 18. Prosecutors say the movement was used as a tool to prepare a mobilisation reserve. Each year, no fewer than 10% of new recruits to the Russian forces reportedly came from Yunarmiya.

Law enforcement identified eight Ukrainian citizens who acted as heads of territorial branches of the movement in the territory of the so-called "DPR" [Donetsk People's Republic is a self-proclaimed quasi-state formation in Donetsk Oblast – ed.]. They have been served with a notice of suspicion under Article 28.3 and Article 438.1 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. The suspects face sentences of between 10 and 15 years' imprisonment, or life imprisonment.

Background: Earlier, it was reported that in the temporarily occupied part of Zaporizhzhia Oblast, Russia is intensifying the militarisation of children and increasing funding for propaganda organisations.

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