Parents, be careful: ways to recruit Ukrainian children in Russia

Russian special services are actively recruiting Ukrainian children to carry out sabotage tasks. It all starts with simple tasks for a small fee — and ends with serious crimes, such as arson and terrorist acts. The National Police warns of possible risks and ways to protect children.

How recruitment will take place: the first steps – “graffiti” and “postcards”

The head of the Department for the Organization of the Educational Security Service of the National Police, Nadezhda Sytnyk, notes that the initial stages of recruitment look practically safe. Teenagers are offered on Telegram:

to distribute or stick leaflets,

to draw graffiti in crowded places,

to take pictures of particular objects.

Children are promised a small financial reward for these actions, which attracts them without letting them realize the possible consequences.

Psychological pressure and manipulation

After a child agrees to the first tasks, they can be forced to commit more serious crimes, such as:

setting cars on fire,
damaging infrastructure,
espionage.

“They are blackmailed, claiming that they already have compromising material, and forced to go further,” explains Sytnyk.

Why it works: children develop critical thinking

The National Police emphasizes that children are easy targets for manipulation, as their critical thinking is not yet fully developed. Those who spend a lot of time on the Internet in search of “easy money” are especially vulnerable.

How parents can recognize the threat

Experts recommend paying attention to:

the appearance of money or gadgets that the child did not receive,
withdrawal or changes in behavior,
a new circle of friends,
a sudden interest in military facilities or the railway,
evasion of conversations on the topic of Internet safety.
According to statistics, 22% of all recruited persons in Ukraine are minors. Among them were even 13-year-old teenagers detained for arson of Ukrzaliznytsia facilities. The oldest detainee was 52 years old.

Russia uses social networks as a tool for recruitment. Children become easy prey and can be forced to silence and commit crimes. The only protection can be parents’ attention, dialogue, and control. The National Police urges Ukrainians to be attentive – the safety of children is directly related to national security.