The victory of a fighter' against Moscow's child indoctrination machine

"Koldin, originally from Kharkiv in eastern Ukraine, is 21 years old. She was 17 when Russian tanks rolled into Vovchansk, where she lived, four years ago. She and her brother were living with a foster family after their parents lost custody due to problems with alcohol. Koldin, who participated Wednesday in the Global Forum for the Reconstruction of Ukraine, held in Madrid, admits that this background made them easy prey for Russian influence."

"In the summer of the first year of the invasion, they had to cross into Russia using different routes. The boy even came to disown his homeland after months of Russian indoctrination. But Koldin, who describes herself as a fighter, did not give up and brought him back home."

"The Ukrainian government has identified more than 19,500 children deported or forcibly removed from their homes by Russian authorities since February 2022, although it estimates the number is much higher Yale University puts the figure as high as 35,000. Kyiv accuses Moscow of kidnapping these children and brainwashing them as part of a systematic campaign to destroy the country's future."

Ksenia Koldin, a 21-year-old from Kharkiv, describes how her younger brother Sergii was subjected to Russian indoctrination after being forcibly taken to Russia during the invasion. At age 10, Sergii was manipulated through months of brainwashing and came to disown his homeland. Ksenia's determination led to his eventual return home. Their experience mirrors that of thousands of Ukrainian children. The Ukrainian government has identified over 19,500 children forcibly deported by Russian authorities since February 2022, though estimates suggest the number reaches 35,000. The International Criminal Court is pursuing arrest warrants for Russian President Vladimir Putin and Maria Lvova-Belova for this systematic campaign targeting Ukraine's youth.

Read at english.elpais.com