Putin Forcing Abducted Ukrainian Children To Fight Against Fellow Ukrainians, UK Says

Russian President Vladimir Putin looks on as he walks at Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing, China, Tuesday, Sept 2, 2025.Vladimir Putin is forcing abducted Ukrainian children to fight on Russia’s side against their own country, according to British intelligence.Despite ongoing attempts from the US to force the Russian leader to the negotiating table, it seems peace talks are a long way off – and the war of attrition will rumble on for some time yet.Moscow revealed just last week that it has plans to push even further forwards with its invasion of Ukraine.Now the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has reported that Russia is “conscripting young Ukrainians into the Russian military once they turn 18”.The MoD said a “significant” proportion of those Ukrainians were illegally abducted during Russia’s invasion and occupation of Ukraine.“Some are then reportedly being forced to take a direct part in the conflict against their fellow Ukrainians,” the UK officials said, citing information they’ve received from Ukrainian government officials.So far, at least 19,500 children have been forcibly transferred or deported by the Russian authorities to mainland Russia or the illegally occupied territory of Crimea.Some open source reports believe the total number of deportations could be as high as 35,000.“An estimated 6,000 Ukrainian children have been relocated to a network of re-education camps, from which they are reportedly sent on to military training depots when they reach their late teens,” the MoD said.The officials also claimed that the Russian senior leadership almost certainly sees that if any abducted Ukrainians die while fighting for the Russians, there will be “minimal if any objection or protest” from the Russian public – many of whom are not even aware of the abductions.“The abduction and forced conscription of Ukrainian children into the Russian military fits into the Russian senior leadership’s long-standing Russification policy in illegally occupied Ukrainian territory, which seeks to extirpate Ukrainian culture, identity and statehood,” the MoD said.There is currently an international arrest warrant out for Putin over alleged war crimes including the forced deportation of Ukrainian children.Latest Defence Intelligence update on the situation in Ukraine - 03 September 2025.Find out more about Defence Intelligence's use of language: https://t.co/fPtKNQMYWf#StandWithUkrainepic.twitter.com/hpAIugpl8I— Ministry of Defence 🇬🇧 (@DefenceHQ) September 3, 2025The MoD’s update comes as the UK has just announced a fresh round of sanctions on 11 Russian actors for forcibly deporting, indoctrinating and militarising Ukrainian children. UN reporting has also found the Russian Federation is forcing the Russian curriculum to be taught in schools within occupied parts of Ukraine, and preparing children to serve in the Russian military.Children are re-educated with revised history of Russia and Ukraine, encouraged to be pro-Russia and swear allegiance to Moscow.Russia has been enforcing its re-education strategy for more than 10 years, ever since it illegally annexed Crimea back in 2014.Foreign secretary David Lammy said this all demonstrated the “depths of depravity that President Putin will reach to erase Ukrainian language, culture and identity”.“To take a child from their home and seek to forcibly erase their heritage and upbringing through lies and disinformation can never be tolerated. No child should ever be a pawn of war and that is why we are holding those responsible to account,” he said.Armed Forces minister Luke Pollard said these sanctions were part of the UK’s “firm action against this disgraceful practice”.He said: “Putin continues to demonstrate he is not serious about peace, launching some of the largest attacks against Ukraine since the start of the war in recent weeks, which is why it is vital we continue to work with our partners and allies to continue to ally pressure for him to negotiate.”Related...Boris Johnson Blasts Trump's 'Sick-Making' Welcome For PutinTrump Fires Off Stark Warning To Xi, Putin And Kim Jong Un: ‘As You Conspire Against Us…’Putin Dismisses Any Suggestion He Has 'Aggressive Plans' Across Europe

Comments

Breaking news

Zoe Hamburger leaves top job at McDonald’s UK after 18 months

Metro

Comments

Similar News

'Awkward' Putin crumbles next to 'alpha' Kim Jong-un in bizarre dictator meeting

Moment North Koreans 'remove all traces of Kim Jong Un's DNA' from meeting room where he met Putin by wiping down furniture and removing items

Boris Johnson Blasts Trump's 'Sick-Making' Welcome For Putin

Kim Jong-un’s staff ‘destroys all traces of paranoid dictator’s presence’ at Putin talks

Chinese leader XI Jinping cozies up to Vladimir Putin at military parade

China's terrifying military's perfect formation parading for Putin & Kim Jong-un

Putin grins with Kim and Xi Jinping as 'axis of evil' meet up at military parade

Xi, Putin and the Russian Gas Deal To Resist Trump and the West

Donald Trump Fires Off Stark Warning To Xi, Putin And Kim Jong Un: ‘As You Conspire Against Us…’

Putin smirks at nukes and underwater drones during China’s military parade

Putin meets North Korea's Kim in Beijing

The Big Putin, Xi and Kim Jong Un meeting

Trump accuses Xi of conspiring against US with Putin and Kim

Putin Hails Kim's 'Initiative' in North Korea Troops Fighting for Russia

Ukraine-Russia war latest: Trump ‘very disappointed’ with Putin as Moscow accused of building up forces on frontline

Trump goes scorched earth on Putin, Xi Jinping and Kim Jong Un for 'conspiring against America' as world despots unite to unveil chilling new weapon at China's military parade

Moment Xi, Putin and Kim pose with world leaders at China's military parade

Xi, Putin, and Kim gather at Tiananmen Gate for a grand military parade

UK still ploughing millions into Putin's war chest through loophole, PM warned

Putin Dismisses Any Suggestion He Has 'Aggressive Plans' Across Europe

Breaking news

Zoe Hamburger leaves top job at McDonald’s UK after 18 months

Kim Jong-un’s likely heir makes her international debut at China military parade

Mother of two’s fury after being handed ‘ridiculous’ £100 parking fine

Conjoined twins Abby and Brittany post mysterious update after they were spotted with newborn

Olivia Colman Admits Meeting Austin Butler Made Her 'Go Weak At The Knees'

Angela Rayner Has Admitted She Didn't Pay Enough Tax. Here's Why This Is Such A Big Deal

'Absolutely Mad': Kemi Badenoch Mocked After Letting Keir Starmer Off The Hook At PMQs

This 3-Minute Home Test Could Help Spot Higher Alzheimer's Risk

The Thursday Murder Club Has Officially Been Dethroned As Netflix's Most-Watched Film Right Now