Occupation authorities in Donetsk make 500 schoolchildren take part in "anti-terrorism dictation"
Roughly 500 Ukrainian schoolchildren in Russian-occupied Donetsk region were made to take part in an "anti-terrorism dictation" that taught them they can face criminal liability, including for reposting content online, from age 14.
Russian occupation authorities in the Donetsk region organized a so-called "anti-terrorism dictation" in which around 500 Ukrainian schoolchildren took part. During the exercise, children were given a detailed explanation of Russian extremism legislation.
What the children were taught
The dictation informed pupils that under Russian law, criminal liability for extremism-related offenses — such as reposting content online — can apply from as young as 14 years old. This effectively presents children with the message that ordinary social media activity, such as sharing a post, could lead to prosecution.
Wider context
It has also been reported that in 2025 alone, occupation authorities sent 48 Ukrainian children in the occupied territories to psychiatric hospitals. Together, these facts point to occupation authorities using both the education and healthcare systems to exert pressure and influence over Ukrainian children living under occupation.
The Donetsk region has been partially under Russian control for several years amid the war with Ukraine. The school system in occupied territories is being used to acquaint pupils with Russian legal norms and state ideology.
