Russia is running a military recruitment programme targeting approximately 1.6 million young people in occupied regions of Ukraine, an independent expert report commissioned by 41 OSCE participating states has found. The document, presented at OSCE headquarters in Vienna on Wednesday, warns that Moscow's indoctrination and militarisation of Ukrainian youth in occupied territories may amount to a crime against humanity.
The findings follow field interviews and on-the-ground research conducted in Ukraine between 6 and 11 June, part of a procedure triggered under the OSCE's Moscow Mechanism. Russia refused to co-operate with the investigation. Experts concluded that Moscow is systematically indoctrinating Ukrainian men and boys in occupied areas to channel them into the Russian armed forces.
The report, published on Thursday, estimates that the vast population of young Ukrainers in occupied zones remains at grave risk.