Metropolitan Mykhail of Lutsk and Volyn blesses the clergy of the eparchy to carry out educational, explanatory, and patriotic-formative work with the faithful of the Volyn Eparchy entrusted to him, in order to safeguard against the enemy's use of children and teenagers in subversive activity.

In particular, parents and their children should be addressed with a warning and a reminder about the danger of the recruitment of Ukrainian teenagers by russia's special services. The special services of the Russian Federation are currently investing large sums in recruiting teenagers from Ukraine for subversive work. At present, hundreds of people are working systematically against us on the enemy's side, including psychologists, multimillion budgets, entire networks of recruiters, analysis and selection by region, separate rates and «price lists» for various acts of sabotage, and the involvement and encouragement of new participants into the «network».

Agents of the aggressor state use psychological pressure, manipulation, and financial rewards to recruit children through Telegram channels, social networks, and online games, promising them «easy» earnings for carrying out certain tasks. The tasks from the russian handlers may range from drawing provocative graffiti and putting up leaflets that discredit the Armed Forces of Ukraine to more serious actions, such as setting fire to transformers or the vehicles of servicemen.

It must be emphasized: such actions may be classified under various articles of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, including subversive activity and sabotage, which carry severe penalties, up to life imprisonment. Criminal liability will be borne by both the teenagers and the parents.

For the effective prevention of crimes, teachers and psychologists should be involved, who can conduct preventive talks with teenagers.

Parents must also be reminded of the importance of monitoring their children's online activity.

Among the chief pieces of advice for parents:

↑1. Inform children about the danger of such recruitment and explain the consequences.

↑2. Regularly monitor with whom and about what your children communicate on the internet.

↑3. Respond promptly and contact law enforcement when suspicious contacts or information about recruitment is discovered.

Advice for teenagers:

– be cautious with strangers on the internet; do not share personal information with them;

– tell adults about new online acquaintances;

– avoid visiting internet resources with questionable content;

– if you receive offers to commit acts of sabotage for money, report it to the police at 102 or fill out the feedback form on the cyberpolice website (https://ticket.cyberpolice.gov.ua/).

Criminal liability:

The aforementioned crimes may be classified under a number of articles of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, which provide for severe penalties, in particular:

– Art. 111 (High Treason), punishable by imprisonment for a term of fifteen years or by life imprisonment, with confiscation of property;

– Art. 113 (Sabotage committed under conditions of martial law), punishable by imprisonment for a term of fifteen years or by life imprisonment, with confiscation of property;

– Part 2 of Art. 194 (Intentional destruction or damage to property), punishable by up to ten years of imprisonment; and others.

Metropolitan Mykhail draws attention to the fact that children and teenagers are the most vulnerable part of society. The Church calls us to protect those who cannot protect themselves. Any violence, exploitation, or neglect of a child is evil. The use of children for criminal purposes is a sin. Therefore it is important for parents and for all Christians to remember the words of the Bible: «Train (raise) up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it» (Prov. 22:6).

Source: "Orthodoxy of Volyn"