The Power Within: The Kyiv Independent’s first-ever magazine. Be among the first to get it.

pre-order now
Skip to content
Edit post

Children being recruited by Russia to set fire to military cars, Ukrainian ombudsman says

by Elsa Court June 18, 2024 9:39 PM 1 min read
Illustrative photo of a car on fire. (Rick Elkins via Getty Images)
This audio is created with AI assistance

Ukrainian children are being recruited by Russia via social media to set fire to military cars parked in cities, Ukraine's Human Rights Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets said on June 18.

Children are offered "several thousand dollars" to commit arson, Lubinets said.

Cases of setting fire to military vehicles have been reportedly recorded in Kyiv, Odesa, and Dnipro.

Recruiting children to set fire to military vehicles is one of the ways Russia is trying to destabilize Ukraine's domestic situation, Lubinets said.

"Such acts involve criminal liability," Lubinets said, and urged parents to warn and educate their children about the recruitment schemes on social networks.

Russia turns to blackmail, big money in effort to recruit German spies, Berlin officials say
Russia is “working hard” to counter the expulsion of diplomats from Germany by turning to blackmail and the lure of big payouts to recruit spies, Berlin officials said on June 18.

News Feed

5:15 PM

Alexander Vindman: Trump repeats past US mistakes with Russia.

Alexander Vindman served as the director of European affairs for the United States National Security Council in 2018-2020, during U.S. President Donald Trump's first administration. The Kyiv Independent's Kate Tsurkan sits down with Vindman to discuss how Washington has historically misjudged Russia, "succumbing to hopes and fears," and why there is no real prospect of peace between Ukraine and Russia now.
12:24 PM

Ukraine receives $400 million tranche from IMF.

The funds represent the latest tranche of the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) program, which will provide Kyiv with $15.6 billion in budget support over four years. With the additional $400 million in funding, the program has now distributed $10.1 billion in financing to Ukraine.
MORE NEWS

Editors' Picks

Enter your email to subscribe
Please, enter correct email address
Subscribe
* indicates required
* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required
* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required

Subscribe

* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required
Explaining Ukraine with Kate Tsurkan
* indicates required
Successfuly subscribed
Thank you for signing up for this newsletter. We’ve sent you a confirmation email.