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How Russia is grooming Ukraine’s children to fight for it: ‘I understood it wasn’t just play’

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Reposted by Liz Cookman

Mykola Kuleba @mykolakuleba.bsky.social · 9d

“I understood it wasn’t just play.”

@lizcookman.bsky.social for @theguardian.com reveals how 200+ Russian “camps” groom Ukrainian children for war, erasing their identity.

📰 Read & share: www.theguardian.com/world/2025/s...
#SaveUkraine

Abducted children and those from occupied territories are turning up in Russia’s military-style training camps, with fears that some are already on the frontline

How Russia is grooming Ukraine’s children to fight for it: ‘I understood it wasn’t just play’

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Reposted by Liz Cookman

Liz Cookman @lizcookman.bsky.social · 20d

I’ve been longlisted for Freelance Journalist of the Year at this year’s @rorypecktrust.bsky.social Awards, alongside some incredible journalists with work I really admire. 🎉🎉😎😎

Freelancers are 💪🏽💪🏽

rorypecktrust.org/awards/2025-...

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Liz Cookman @lizcookman.bsky.social · 20d

I’ve been longlisted for Freelance Journalist of the Year at this year’s @rorypecktrust.bsky.social Awards, alongside some incredible journalists with work I really admire. 🎉🎉😎😎

Freelancers are 💪🏽💪🏽

rorypecktrust.org/awards/2025-...

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Reposted by Liz Cookman

Liz Cookman @lizcookman.bsky.social · 22d

Russia is running a network of at least 210 camps to re-educate, Russify and militarise Ukrainian children, a Yale report has found.

It follows my report last week that outlined how stolen children are being “trained to fight for Russia”. For @theguardian.com

www.theguardian.com/global-devel...

Liz Cookman @lizcookman.bsky.social · 27d

Children from occupied Ukraine are being forcibly taken to miltary camps in Russia, where they train to rig booby traps and load guns.

Many fear they are being prepared for the Russian army. Some may already be on the frontline.

My story @theguardian.com.

www.theguardian.com/world/2025/s...

Abducted children and those from occupied territories are turning up in Russia’s military-style training camps, with fears that some are already on the frontline

How Russia is grooming Ukraine’s children to fight for it: ‘I understood it wasn’t just play’

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Liz Cookman @lizcookman.bsky.social · 22d

Russia is running a network of at least 210 camps to re-educate, Russify and militarise Ukrainian children, a Yale report has found.

It follows my report last week that outlined how stolen children are being “trained to fight for Russia”. For @theguardian.com

www.theguardian.com/global-devel...

Liz Cookman @lizcookman.bsky.social · 27d

Children from occupied Ukraine are being forcibly taken to miltary camps in Russia, where they train to rig booby traps and load guns.

Many fear they are being prepared for the Russian army. Some may already be on the frontline.

My story @theguardian.com.

www.theguardian.com/world/2025/s...

Abducted children and those from occupied territories are turning up in Russia’s military-style training camps, with fears that some are already on the frontline

How Russia is grooming Ukraine’s children to fight for it: ‘I understood it wasn’t just play’

1 4

Reposted by Liz Cookman

Liz Cookman @lizcookman.bsky.social · 27d

Children from occupied Ukraine are being forcibly taken to miltary camps in Russia, where they train to rig booby traps and load guns.

Many fear they are being prepared for the Russian army. Some may already be on the frontline.

My story @theguardian.com.

www.theguardian.com/world/2025/s...

Abducted children and those from occupied territories are turning up in Russia’s military-style training camps, with fears that some are already on the frontline

How Russia is grooming Ukraine’s children to fight for it: ‘I understood it wasn’t just play’

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Liz Cookman @lizcookman.bsky.social · 27d

Children from occupied Ukraine are being forcibly taken to miltary camps in Russia, where they train to rig booby traps and load guns.

Many fear they are being prepared for the Russian army. Some may already be on the frontline.

My story @theguardian.com.

www.theguardian.com/world/2025/s...

Abducted children and those from occupied territories are turning up in Russia’s military-style training camps, with fears that some are already on the frontline

As Russian drones rain down on Ukraine, this unit has one...

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Reposted by Liz Cookman

Liz Cookman @lizcookman.bsky.social · Sep 7

This summer, Ukraine was hit with record nos of Russian drones - the deadliest run for civilians in over 3 years. The drones are getting faster, better, with attacks set to grow in autumn. But air defences are evolving quickly to catch up. For @observeruk.bsky.social
observer.co.uk/news/interna...

Citizens fall asleep every night to the constant hum of killing machines that turn buildings to dust and snuff out lives. In a sunflower field near Kyiv,...

As Russian drones rain down on Ukraine, this unit has one...

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Reposted by Liz Cookman

WarTranslated (Dmitri) @wartranslated.bsky.social · Sep 7

In Kyiv, the Cabinet of Ministers building caught fire, likely after drone debris fell on it. PM Svyrydenko wrote: “For the first time, a government building — its roof and upper floors — has been damaged by an enemy attack. Firefighters are battling the blaze. Thank you for your work.”

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Liz Cookman @lizcookman.bsky.social · Sep 7

This summer, Ukraine was hit with record nos of Russian drones - the deadliest run for civilians in over 3 years. The drones are getting faster, better, with attacks set to grow in autumn. But air defences are evolving quickly to catch up. For @observeruk.bsky.social
observer.co.uk/news/interna...

Citizens fall asleep every night to the constant hum of killing machines that turn buildings to dust and snuff out lives. In a sunflower field near Kyiv,...

Woman ‘recruited by Ukraine to blow up Russian security building’

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Liz Cookman @lizcookman.bsky.social · Aug 26

A woman has been arrested by Russia’s FSB for attempting to attack its HQ in Sevastapol, Crimea, with a religious icon rigged with explosives on behalf of Ukraine’s SBU. Me for @thetimes

www.thetimes.com/world/russia...

The 54-year-old was arrested after allegedly taking a religious icon rigged with explosives to the FSB headquarters in Crimea, Russian media claims

We want peace – but not on Putin’s terms, Ukrainians say

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Reposted by Liz Cookman

Liz Cookman @lizcookman.bsky.social · Aug 25

An interview with former Ukrainian president Poroshenko, and the view from Kyiv, amid the push for peace for @observeruk.bsky.social.

“We don't need anything from Russia. Stop the war, stop the killing, stop grabbing territory, stop blackmailing us and get out.”

observer.co.uk/news/interna...

Weary of Russia’s war, the citizens of Ukraine are nevertheless wary of a settlement that might give away too much or that doesn’t carry a security guara...

We want peace – but not on Putin’s terms, Ukrainians say

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Liz Cookman @lizcookman.bsky.social · Aug 25

An interview with former Ukrainian president Poroshenko, and the view from Kyiv, amid the push for peace for @observeruk.bsky.social.

“We don't need anything from Russia. Stop the war, stop the killing, stop grabbing territory, stop blackmailing us and get out.”

observer.co.uk/news/interna...

Weary of Russia’s war, the citizens of Ukraine are nevertheless wary of a settlement that might give away too much or that doesn’t carry a security guara...

‘Russia is targeting us deliberately’: how attacks on maternity hospitals fuelled a birth-rate crisis in Ukraine

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Reposted by Liz Cookman

Annie Kelly @anniekelly.bsky.social · Aug 22

Powerful reporting and incredible stories here from @lizcookman.bsky.social , edited by @tomlevitt.bsky.social for our new in-depth reporting series on the war in Ukraine

www.theguardian.com/world/2025/a...

The Guardian has visited three frontline hospitals to hear from women who say they have been left fearful of childbirth after more than 80 attacks on maternity units since Russia’s full-scale invasion

‘Russia is targeting us deliberately’: how attacks on maternity hospitals fuelled a birth-rate crisis in Ukraine

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Reposted by Liz Cookman

María Ramírez @mariaramirez.bsky.social · Aug 21

"In the three years since then, maternity care in Ukraine has remained under constant attack, with more than 2,000 strikes on medical facilities, including 81 affecting maternal care and delivery rooms." By @lizcookman.bsky.social from Kharkiv, Kherson, Sloviansk www.theguardian.com/world/2025/a...

Women have been left fearful of childbirth after more than 80 attacks on maternity units since the invasion, leading to the world’s lowest birth rate and the highest mortality rate

‘Russia is targeting us deliberately’: how attacks on maternity hospitals fuelled a birth-rate crisis in Ukraine

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Liz Cookman @lizcookman.bsky.social · Aug 22

I travelled to three frontline cities to show what new mothers face in Ukraine - attacks on maternity hospitals, circling drones, power cuts and constant air raid sirens.

Ukraine had the lowest birth rate in the world last year - and highest death rate.

www.theguardian.com/world/2025/a...

The Guardian has visited three frontline hospitals to hear from women who say they have been left fearful of childbirth after more than 80 attacks on maternity units since Russia’s full-scale invasion

Trump-Putin Alaska meeting: Russia ‘wants a piece’ of US wealth — live

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Liz Cookman @lizcookman.bsky.social · Aug 15

From Lavrov’s jumper choices to whether Putin will be given the red carpet treatment, follow our live updates from today’s “HIGH STAKES” Trump-Putin summit in Alaska. @thetimes.com

www.thetimes.com/us/american-...

Trump-Putin Alaska meeting: time, schedule and latest news on summit

How Europe can hit Russia where it hurts — and why it probably won’t

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Liz Cookman @lizcookman.bsky.social · Aug 13

How Europe can hit Russia where it hurts — and why it probably won’t.

The Continent is home to €260bn of frozen Kremlin assets. Ukraine wants it all seized like a sanctioned oligarch’s yacht.

Me for @thetimes.com

www.thetimes.com/world/russia...

The Continent is home to €260bn of frozen Kremlin assets. Ukraine wants it all seized like a sanctioned oligarch’s yacht

How Russia targets Ukrainians’ hearts and minds through their phones

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Liz Cookman @lizcookman.bsky.social · Aug 7

Russia is attempting a “digital occupation” of Ukraine using a vast network of pro-Kremlin bots that flood people’s mobile phones in the occupied east with subtle and locally-targeted disinformation.

My story for @thetimes.com

www.thetimes.com/world/russia...

Pro-Kremlin fake accounts have flooded Telegram with thousands of targeted messages to create a ‘digital occupation’ and sow dissent

Sickness and starvation stalk Somalia’s children in the ‘City of Death’

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Reposted by Liz Cookman

Save the Children UK @savechildrenuk.bsky.social · Aug 1

Over 120 health facilities across Somalia are at risk due of closing due to cuts in international aid, with children paying the heaviest price.

Our CEO Moazzam Malik visited Baidoa, the epicentre of the crisis, with @lizcookman.bsky.social.

This is what they saw 👇

Baidoa is the epicentre of a humanitarian crisis. Vital lifelines keeping infants alive may soon be forced to close, thanks to aid cuts

bit.ly

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Liz Cookman @lizcookman.bsky.social · Aug 4

Her name was Diana Koshyk and she was 23.

She liked to write poetry and paint, and was seven months pregnant with a son she named Damir. She was killed in a Russian missile strike last week.

My first story for @observeruk.bsky.social

observer.co.uk/news/interna...

Pregnant, panicking… then the bomb struck | The Observer

Her name was Diana Koshyk and she was 23 years old. She liked to write poetry and paint, and she was the “love of my life”, says her husband Oleksandr Ko...

On the ground with the crew battling Turkey’s blazing wildfires

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Liz Cookman @lizcookman.bsky.social · Jul 23

Thousand are on the streets in Kyiv for a second night, incl. wounded veterans, to protest Zelenskyy’s signing of a controversial bill on the independence of Ukraine’s anti-corruption institutions.

Some compared him to Yanukovych, who was ousted during the Maidan Revolution.

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Reposted by Liz Cookman

Liz Cookman @lizcookman.bsky.social · Jul 5

I went out with firefighting teams on the frontline of Turkey’s battle with devastating wildfires at their epicentre - Izmir province. Blazes are tearing through homes and farms. They have killed at least three, including one firefighter. @thetimes.com

www.thetimes.com/world/europe...

Residents in Izmir whose homes and land have been destroyed spoke of birds catching alight, wild horses ‘screaming’, devastation and loss