1.6 million children live in occupied territories
In the occupied territories, students have less opportunities to learn Ukrainian
Photo: Troyanphoto/Depositphotos
About 1.6 million children live in temporarily occupied territories – almost every fifth Ukrainian schoolboy.
This is stated in the report of the Center for Civic Enlightenment « Almeda », reported His leader Maria Slyanin during the presentation of the results of the study.
According to her, information about the number of children left on temporarily occupied parts of Ukraine is oriented. Therefore, experts of the organization use data of the Russian Federation and occupation authorities for calculations.
The analytical report showed that as of 2025, 16% of Ukrainian school -age children are occupied in occupation.
Maria Slyanina noted that children in the occupied regions are systematically undergoing pressure confirming the data since 2014. The head of « Almed » added that the situation « only deteriorates » from year to year.
Experts noted that Russian policy on children in the occupied territories has several patterns, including Eradication of all Ukrainian. For example, the situation with the study of the Ukrainian language has deteriorated in Crimea. If in 2014 all students studied the state, now such students are only 0.5% according to the occupation authorities. Similar trends are tracked in other regions that have captured the Russian Federation.
« The methodology is limited because we refer to the data of the occupying power. When we check this information, we see that there is no real access to language. That is, even those figures are actually lower »– explained the head of the public organization.
Maria Slyanina noted that the Russian authorities are also introducing militarization of education in temporarily occupied territories. An example of such a policy is to open “Cadet Classes”that appear everywhere in all captured territories. Their number is:
- Crimea – 260 classes;
- Lugansk region – 86;
- Zaporizhzhya region – 13;
- Kherson region – 9;
- Donetsk region is unknown.
The peculiarity of « cadet classes » in occupation schools is that students from the first class are preparing for military affairs
« They are being built only one trajectory of the future – they must become either military or part of the Russian Federation Power– added Slyanina.
Photo: “Center of Civic Enlightenment“ Almeda ”
Almed experts believe that this year, the number of such classes can only increase, given that 2025 in Russia was declared a year of « Homeland ».
Besides, Russians are actively engaged in the development of « youth policy »which covers movements and measures for youth aimed at Russification of Ukrainian children.
The public organization drew attention to the fact that the Russian Federation has increased significantly the costs of this area. If in 2014, 0.71 billion rubles were allocated for youth policy, this year – 70.9 billion.
According to occupation administrations, in recent years the number of Ukrainian children involved in the movement « UNARMIY »increased by thousands.
Photo: “Center of Civic Enlightenment“ Almeda ”
« It is important for us to pay attention to this that we can be held accountable (guilty), to implement a proper answer from Ukraine, to provide processes of reintegration and access of children to Ukrainian education. It also helps to show who is responsible for the policy of destruction of identity »– said Maria Slyanina.
Earlier Human Rights Dmitry Lubinets statedAlmost 600,000 children live in temporarily occupied territories. Among them are those who want to study in Ukrainian educational institutions undergo systematic pressure.
