August 21, 2025

Information Cutoff: 12 PM ET, August 20

 Eloise Herdegen, Veronica Iredale, and Paul Conroy, with Karolina Hird

Russian occupation authorities are introducing new restrictions on communications in occupied Ukraine while continuing to impose the use of the Russian-controlled MAX messaging software. Russian journalist Anastasia Kashevarova reported on August 11 that Russian mobile operators asked the Russian government to begin blocking video and audio calls on foreign messengers beginning on August 1. The Ukrainian Resistance Center reported on August 13 that WhatsApp users in both occupied Ukraine and Russia are reporting unstable connection or lack of access to WhatsApp communications. The Ukrainian Resistance Center noted that Russian officials have previously proposed restricting WhatsApp under the allegation that internet calls result in revenue losses for mobile operators. Residents of occupied Melitopol, Zaporizhia Oblast are reportedly unable to contact people outside of occupied Ukraine using WhatsApp or Telegram video and audio calls. A Ukrainian official reported on August 15 that Russian occupation authorities blocked WhatsApp and Telegram in occupied Zaporizhia Oblast.

Russian occupation authorities continue to violate the Geneva Conventions by forcibly mobilizing residents of occupied Ukraine into the Russian Armed Forces. Independent Ukrainian online media outlet Hromadske published an interview with a Ukrainian veteran of Russia's first invasion of Ukraine whom Russia forcibly mobilized into the Russian Armed Forces and whom Ukrainian forces recently captured during combat operations in Donetsk Oblast. The man claimed that Russian police planted drugs in his house and forced him to serve his 12.5-year prison sentence by sending him to fight in the 1st Motor Rifle Brigade, 51st Combined Arms Army (formerly the 1st Donetsk People's Republic Army Corps) in the Pokrovsk direction. The man reported that he knew another Ukrainian from occupied Kherson Oblast who “voluntarily” signed an MoD contract to avoid trial and imprisonment. Ukrainian journalist Vladislav Esipenko reported that Russian recruiters began to visit the prison at which he was detained in occupied Kerch, Crimea, in 2023 to recruit prisoners into the Russian military.

The Kremlin-controlled Russian Orthodox Church (ROC) continues to increase its influence on children and youth in occupied Crimea by using spiritual and educational activities as a tool for indoctrination and militarization. The Ukrainian Center for Countering Disinformation (CCD) reported on August 17 that the ROC is holding the “Istoky” (Origins) youth forum at the Artek International Children Center in occupied Crimea. ROC representatives presented the “Brotherhood of Orthodox Scouts” scouting program during the Istoky forum. The scouting program is explicitly militaristic and teaches children wilderness and survival skills, weapon handling, and subjects them to ideological indoctrination. Ukrainian outlet Mezha reported on August 17 that the scouting program allows the Kremlin to prepare Ukrainian children in occupied territories for future service in the Russian military under the guise of “spiritual and educational values.”

• Russian occupation authorities are introducing new restrictions on communications in occupied Ukraine while continuing to impose the use of the Russian-controlled MAX messaging software.

• Russian occupation authorities continue to violate the Geneva Conventions by forcibly mobilizing residents of occupied Ukraine into the Russian Armed Forces.

• The Kremlin-controlled Russian Orthodox Church (ROC) continues to increase its influence on children and youth in occupied Crimea by using spiritual and educational activities as a tool for indoctrination and militarization.

• The Russian “Helping Ours” Foundation expanded its operations to occupied Kherson Oblast and facilitated the deportation of an unspecified number of Ukrainian children to a Russian government-controlled medical facility in Moscow Oblast.

• Russia continues to use Ukrainian youth from the occupied territories for development and reconstruction programs both in Russia and occupied Ukraine.

• Russian occupation officials continue to train Ukrainian children to become drone operators for future service in the Russian military or the Russian defense industrial base.

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