SBU serves notices of suspicion to three occupiers for preparing Crimean schoolchildren for war
Kyiv • UNN
The SBU has served notices of suspicion to three occupiers for the militarization of youth in Crimea. Teenagers are being trained in sabotage activities for future service in the Russian army.
The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) has notified three representatives of occupation structures in Crimea of suspicion in absentia. According to the investigation, they are involved in the military training of local teenagers for further service in the Russian army. This was reported by the SBU, according to UNN.
Details
The individuals involved are Oleksandr Dyachenko—head of the occupation "Union of Border Guards of Crimea" and the "Varyag Maritime Training Center" in Simferopol—as well as his subordinates Darya Horokhova and Volodymyr Graf.
According to the investigation, these structures formally position themselves as public organizations, but in fact, they are coordinated by Russian special services and used for the militarization of youth on the temporarily occupied peninsula.
The SBU states that one of the key areas of activity is combat training for young men for subsequent enrollment in special units of the Russian Navy.
At the "Varyag" bases, according to law enforcement, schoolchildren are taught diving, underwater orientation, and elements of sabotage activities in maritime waters
Also, according to the investigation, active-duty personnel of the Russian military intelligence (GRU) are involved in the training as instructors.
Separately, the SBU notes that students are force-fed Russian propaganda, the war against Ukraine is justified, and the ideology of Rashism is promoted.
Upon completion of the courses, teenagers are issued special certificates that provide advantages when applying to Russian military educational institutions.
According to the investigation, the occupation structures received funding from Russia through so-called presidential grants. In early 2023 alone, they were allegedly allocated nearly 4.5 million rubles.
In addition, the occupation administration transferred land near Simferopol to the organizers to create a new military training complex, where they planned to simultaneously train at least 150 schoolchildren daily.
The suspects have been notified of suspicion in absentia under articles concerning the justification of the Russian Federation's armed aggression against Ukraine and war crimes committed by a group of persons.
Measures are currently underway to bring the suspects to justice.