Young Ukrainians fleeing Russian-occupied territories face forced conscription, mandatory identity Russification, and intensive military-patriotic re-education before attempting perilous escapes across international borders to government-controlled regions.
Conscription Pressures in Occupied Regions
Moscow continues to tighten control over southern and eastern Ukraine, imposing Russian citizenship and internal passports as mandatory requirements for employment, education, healthcare, and pensions. For young adults such as Bohdan, a 20-year-old from the Zaporizhzhia region, renewing an internal passport after turning 20 immediately triggered a call-up paper from local clerks. Bohdan refused to visit the conscription office and later received a second draft notice while working as a boxing trainer, with authorities warning he would lose his livelihood without military registration.
Similarly, Dima, who is 21, decided to leave his home city in an occupied part of Donetsk region as rumors of mass mobilization spread. In May 2025, he was summoned to serve a year of military service in the national guard near Rostov. Dima stated that officers imposed harsh physical punishment for minor infractions and subjected conscripts to intensive political-military training designed to erase their Ukrainian identity.
Kyiv officials stated last November that Russia had drafted more than 46,000 Ukrainians into its military, and that 16 per cent of prisoners of war held by Ukraine were its own citizens. Analysts estimate that Russia must recruit approximately 30,000 soldiers monthly to offset front-line casualties. Because Vladimir Putin aims to avoid a repeat of the 2022 mass migration when 400,000 people fled a prior mobilization sweep, the Kremlin relies heavily on financial incentives and coercion in occupied territories.
Clandestine Escapes Through Belarus
Fearing deployment to the front lines as rumors of mass mobilization circulated this summer, Dima and Bohdan made independent decisions to flee Russian-controlled territory. Dima departed in September with assistance from Save Ukraine, a Kyiv-based organization that has helped return approximately 1,900 children and young adults to government-controlled areas since 2022. Operating through Russia and Minsk with the coordination of Save Ukraine, Dima’s escape faced a tense moment when Belarusian police officers approached him on a train and asked for his documents.
Recognizing Belarus as a primary ally of the Kremlin, Dima anticipated immediate repatriation to occupied Donetsk. Instead, Belarusian officers recorded a brief video confirming he was traveling voluntarily without committing a crime and permitted him to proceed to the frontier. Upon crossing into government-controlled territory, Dima described his relief at finally breathing easily, noting that whatever lay ahead could not match the conditions he left behind. Bohdan crossed the border from Belarus into Ukraine last month, greeted by Ukrainian soldiers who welcomed him after his departure from Zaporizhzhia.
Systemic Indoctrination in Schools
International scrutiny regarding Russia’s treatment of minors continues to mount. This year, 41 member states of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe directed a team of independent experts to investigate conditions in occupied areas. The mission concluded that indoctrination operates across every level of the school system, where curricula have been replaced to glorify Vladimir Putin and frame the war as a defense against the West. Investigators noted that military-patriotic youth organizations and re-education camps further militarize youth, concluding that these practices of forced transfer, deportation, and systemic indoctrination may amount to crimes against humanity.
Artur Zayonts of Save Ukraine highlighted the scale of these efforts, stating that Russia invests heavily in re-educating boys and girls to address demographic shortages and secure future personnel for its armed forces. With an estimated 1.6 million minors living across the 20 percent of Ukraine currently under occupation, evacuation operations remain fraught with danger for both the fleeing youths and the humanitarian networks assisting them.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many children has Save Ukraine returned to government-controlled territory?
The Save Ukraine organization has successfully assisted approximately 1,900 children and young adults in returning to Kyiv-controlled territory since 2022.
What percentage of Russian prisoners of war are reported to be Ukrainian citizens?
Kyiv officials stated last November that 16 per cent of prisoners of war held by Ukraine were its own citizens.
How many minors are estimated to reside in Russian-occupied regions of Ukraine?
An estimated 1.6 million minors are currently living within the 20 percent of Ukraine that remains under Russian military occupation.
What did international investigators conclude regarding Russia’s school curriculum in occupied areas?
An expert team requested by 41 member states of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe concluded that systemic indoctrination operates across every level of the school system, potentially amounting to crimes against humanity.
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