The Daily Populous Saturday September 27th, 2025 evening edition
Authored by united24media.com and submitted by bendubberley_

On September 26, Ukrainian experts reported that Russian occupation authorities in Donetsk have placed 48 children in psychiatric hospitals under charges of so-called “extremism.”

According to Mariia Krasnenko, an expert at the civic organization Almenda, occupation administrations systematically target children and youth under the pretext of combating extremism.

“Education and state youth policy are their main focus. The occupation authorities have developed clear markers to monitor and punish those considered ‘disloyal,’” Krasnenko said during a briefing at Media Center Ukraine.

Citing data from the so-called “DNR ,” she noted that 161 minors have been brought to criminal responsibility, with 48 of them subjected to compulsory psychiatric treatment.

The Center for Human Rights ZMINA highlighted several cases of teenagers who faced persecution, including:

Maksym Lypkan , punished for calling Russia’s war against Ukraine “a disgrace”;

Viktoria Petrova , targeted for speaking about events in Ukraine;

Denys Khamidullin , hospitalized after shouting “No to war” in central Moscow;

Vasyl Stryzhakov, accused of an attempted attack on Russian propagandist Vladimir Solovyov.

In addition to psychiatric confinement, minors are also subjected to administrative penalties, including fines and forced public apologies. Grounds for punishment may include statements, social media activity, or the use of Ukrainian symbols, which occupation authorities classify as “extremist” actions.

Almenda estimates that around six million Ukrainians remain in Russian-occupied territories, including approximately 1.5 million children.

Valentyna Potapova, head of national advocacy at the organization, noted that these children live under constant pressure:

“They perceive their identity as both a threat to their safety and a source of shame. The state must take this into account when they move to government-controlled areas.”

Earlier, Ukraine’s Center for Countering Disinformation reported that Russia is using youth sports in occupied Zaporizhzhia to spread propaganda, pressuring coaches to promote political slogans and turning tournaments into ideological events.

Buy_Constant on September 27th, 2025 at 12:32 UTC »

I’m a Ukrainian from russia occupied territories, but I left for the EU. While I was leaving I had to spend like 30 hours without sleep at the russian border. They notoriously checked and questioned anyone leaving that hellish place and they also wanted people to stay, argued for staying and said that in the EU they would feel themselves bad. Pushed morally, said that they fight for us and other bullshit. The “talkers” were fsb workers tho. These people are horrible, rude, mad.

AlienInOrigin on September 27th, 2025 at 12:01 UTC »

48 kids braver than Putin and many world leaders.

Jackadullboy99 on September 27th, 2025 at 11:41 UTC »

I can’t believe I’m living in a 21st Century that’s headed in this direction.