Russia Coerces Students in Occupied Territories into Military Industry
On September 13, 2025, Russian authorities are reportedly sending students from temporarily occupied territories under the guise of “internships” to military-industrial complex factories, where they are coerced into supporting the production of weaponry for the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, reports 24brussels.
This alarming development means that young people are not only studying in degree mills that provide diplomas devoid of real value, but they are also being directly involved as accomplices in warfare. The National Resistance Center has raised concerns about this exploitation.
The process, dubbed “more than work” or “industrial tourism” by the occupiers, constitutes a clear violation of international law, which prohibits the exploitation of occupied populations for military purposes, according to the National Resistance Center.
Additionally, previous reports from the National Resistance Center indicated that Russia is transforming Ukrainian children into “cannon fodder” in occupied territories. This includes the forced conscription of teenagers, who are taken from Ukraine and trained to become soldiers in foreign armies. One notable case involved a 15-year-old boy from Kherson who was sent to a Russian camp near Japan, indicating the lengths to which the aggressor will go in its efforts to recruit young people to fight against Ukraine.
