Russian invaders plan to involve children from "Youth troops" in war against Ukraine - Denisova

This is stated in the message of the Commissioner of the Verkhovna Rada for Human Rights Lyudmyla Denisova.

The Russian authorities will use children as cannon fodder to commit war crimes.  The invaders are expanding the "Youth troops" network on the territory of the temporarily occupied Crimea. Since the beginning of the year, 16.5 thousand children have joined the ranks of the movement.

"In general, the composition of the "Youth troops" movement only in the south of the country and in the temporarily occupied Crimea is 194 thousand young men and women, which exceeds the number of the armed forces of the Russian Federation involved in the war with Ukraine. The rashists plan to hold the International Army Games in 2022, where they will train young people for real war", Denisova notes.

By promoting the entry into the army among the civilian population of the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine, the Russian Federation violates the laws of the Geneva Convention for the Protection of Civilian Population in Time of War and the rights of children to be involved in armed conflicts.

"I appeal to the UN Commission to Investigate Human Rights Violations during the Russian military invasion of Ukraine and the expert mission, created by the OSCE participating States in accordance with the Moscow Mechanism, to take into account these facts of war crimes and human rights violations of the Russian Federation in Ukraine", she added.