“Stolen Childhood”: Screening and Discussion at Kyiv School of Economics
On May 15, Gen.Ukrainian, together with Bring Kids Back UA and the Ukrainian Child Rights Network, held a screening of the documentary Stolen Childhood at the Kyiv School of Economics.
The film, directed by Volodymyr Kalishchuk, was created during Gen.Camp — a psychological intensive for children traumatised by war. In this safe space, children who had experienced loss, deportation, and occupation spoke honestly and openly for the first time.
After the screening, a panel discussion titled “Handle with Care: Childhood, War, Occupation, Deportation” gathered professionals working to protect and support war-affected children.
The film, directed by Volodymyr Kalishchuk, was created during Gen.Camp — a psychological intensive for children traumatised by war. In this safe space, children who had experienced loss, deportation, and occupation spoke honestly and openly for the first time.
After the screening, a panel discussion titled “Handle with Care: Childhood, War, Occupation, Deportation” gathered professionals working to protect and support war-affected children.
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Over the past three years, our team has encountered some of the most harrowing stories of children affected by the war. But the most profound impression came from those who returned from occupation or deportation. Their distorted behaviour patterns stem not only from trauma but from targeted indoctrination.
"Stolen Childhood": Screening and Discussion at Kyiv School of Economics
One of the greatest challenges discussed during the event is the systematic reprogramming of children under Russian occupation.
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Indoctrination, russification, and militarisation are not isolated incidents or local excesses — they are centralised policies of the Russian Federation aimed at the complete erasure of Ukrainian identity. From kindergartens to universities, children are recruited into militarised ideological structures like ‘Yunarmiya’, taught to use drones, conduct cyberwarfare, and fight against their own country.
The conversation also focused on the immense risks facing children still in temporarily occupied territories.
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1.6 million Ukrainian children remain in temporarily occupied territories, where they are subjected daily to systemic indoctrination, russification, militarisation, and identity erasure. Their return is the most dangerous and the most complex.
If we fail to shift focus and resources toward this massive group of children — we risk losing an entire generation of Ukrainians.
If we fail to shift focus and resources toward this massive group of children — we risk losing an entire generation of Ukrainians.
This conversation reminded us: rebuilding Ukraine means protecting its children — not just physically, but emotionally, psychologically, and culturally.
The documentary is now available for viewing on MEGOGO.
The documentary is now available for viewing on MEGOGO.
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Psychological support to children is provided free of charge thanks to patronage
The purpose of the Gen.Camp:
stabilization of the psychological and emotional state of a child after a traumatic experience.
The duration of the program: 21 days.
Location: Ukraine.
stabilization of the psychological and emotional state of a child after a traumatic experience.
The duration of the program: 21 days.
Location: Ukraine.
info@genukrainian.com.ua
© Gen.Ukrainian 2022
© Gen.Ukrainian 2022