**Ukrainian Children Being Recruited by Russian Intelligence**
The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) has revealed that 22% of people recruited by Russian intelligence services to carry out sabotage acts or terrorist attacks in the country are minors. This information was shared by Artem Dekhtiarenko, a spokesperson for the SBU.
**Recruitment Tactics**
Russian intelligence services often target unemployed individuals, those with criminal records, and people with addictions. Young people and addicts are more easily manipulated because they can’t fully assess the consequences of their actions. The SBU has caught cases where 13-year-old teenagers were used to set fire to railroad switchboards.
**Police Efforts**
Vasyl Bohdan, head of the Juvenile Prevention Department in Ukraine’s National Police, said that there is a decrease in child recruitment compared to last year. However, the number of reports of attempts to recruit children has increased. The police identified several reasons why minors agree to such cooperation: material gain, psychological manipulation, romanticization of crime, and blackmail.
**Global Efforts**
The U.K. is adding Russia to the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme (FIRS) to protect against harmful covert activities. Ukraine and EU countries are working together to prevent terrorist acts. The U.S. is drawing up plans to exert additional pressure on both Kyiv and Moscow as a full ceasefire seems unlikely.
**Recent Developments**
Russia launched 15 strike drones against the eastern city of Kharkiv, causing shock among eight people, including three children. There were no physical injuries reported. The Georgian Parliament passed a new “foreign agents” law. The U.S. temporarily eased sanctions to allow Kirill Dmitriev to obtain a visa for a high-level Russian official visit.
**Support for Ukraine**
The European Union is launching the Ukraine2EU program worth 16.7 million euros to support Ukraine’s preparation for EU membership. Latvia will provide 1,500 combat drones to Ukraine.