Who implements the youth policy of the Russian Federation in the temporarily occupied territories of Luhansk region?
The de facto influence of the Russian Federation (hereafter referred to as the RF) on the temporarily occupied territories (hereafter referred to as the TOT) of the Luhansk region began in 2014 with the establishment of the so-called Luhansk People’s Republic (hereafter referred to as the LPR). Since then, the administration of the occupied territories has ostensibly been carried out by local leaders. However, in reality, all personnel appointments were authorised by Moscow. This period also marked the beginning of efforts to shape a new generation of youth “ideologically aligned” with Russia. These efforts have been implemented by replacing Ukrainian educational standards with Russian ones, imposing Russian narratives and ideology. Educational institutions that agreed to collaborate with the occupation authorities became the primary platforms for these initiatives. After Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, it ceased to conceal its presence in the occupied territories. It began formally introducing Russian legal norms and implementing state programmes of the RF government in the TOT. To ensure effective governance, Russia started forming a so-called “political elite” from among the TOT residents who were loyal to the RF and had “positively” established themselves in public or political activities in favour of the aggressor. Under Ukrainian law, such cooperation is classified as collaborationism. One individual who agreed to collaborate with the occupation authorities is Yuliya Velichko, who currently holds the position of Minister of Youth Policy in the so-called LPR.
What is known about her?
Yuliya Velichko (previous surnames: Sukharyova, Snezhinskaya) was born on 26 June 1993 in the village of Bilovodsk, Luhansk Region.
In 2010, she graduated from Specialised School No. 1 named after Prof. L.M. Lopivka in Luhansk. At the time of the occupation of Luhansk region, Yuliya Velichko was a student at the Luhansk National University named after V. Dal, where she studied various disciplines – pedagogy and psychology, as well as state and municipal governance – until 2020.
Before August 2014, this educational institution was known as the East Ukrainian National University named after V. Dal. Following the creation of the so-called LPR, it was unlawfully reorganised into Luhansk University named after V. Dal. Subsequently, its academic programmes were replaced with Russian ones, and the university began integrating into the Russian educational
framework. The institution became involved in several international projects of the Russian Federation, including agreements on cooperation with Kyrgyzstan, Abkhazia, Belarus, as well as Russian educational institutions. A special course titled “Fundamentals of Russian Statehood” was introduced to raise students’ civic awareness. Furthermore, to instil patriotic values in young people and form a mobilisation reserve for the Russian Armed Forces, military training was incorporated into the curriculum.
It is also known that Yuliya Velichko studied in 2016 at a Russian university – the Southern Federal University in Rostov-on-Don.
Thus, Yuliya Velichko pursued her education at pro-Russian and Russian universities, which likely had a significant impact on shaping her worldview. Moreover, the Russian authorities acknowledge the significance of developing social behaviour skills in individuals aged 18-24.
As a youth activist, in 2016, Yuliya Velichko became the head of the Luhansk branch of the Youth Association of Luhansk Region. She was also an active participant in the so-called primaries (note. – illegal elections) in the TOT of Luhansk region in 2016. By 2021, she had become a representative of the Civic Movement “Peace to Luhansk Region”.
The public movement “Peace to Luhansk Region” is a civic movement in the self-proclaimed Luhansk People’s Republic, whose members have a majority (35 representatives) in the so-called People's Council of the LPR. The organization advocates close ties with Russia.
Following this, she served as an advisor to the leader of the so-called LPR, Leonid Pasechnik, and actively campaigned to encourage local youth to support the Russian occupiers after the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion.
There is also information that Velichko served as an advisor to the so-called Chair of the LPR People’s Council, Denis Miroshnychenko, who is under sanctions by Ukraine, Canada, Switzerland, the EU, Australia, New Zealand, and Japan. Miroshnychenko was the head of the Luhansk Regional Centre for the Development of Children’s Movements “Luhari”, where Yuliya Velichko began her career in 2011.
Minister of Youth Policy
Due to her loyalty to the “Russian World” and her close ties with the occupation authorities’ leadership, Yuliya Velichko was appointed head of the Ministry of Youth Policy of the so-called LPR in June 2023. Since the RF considers youth policy one of its state priorities, the heads of relevant ministries and agencies play key roles in implementing the objectives of Russian policy. According to the law on “Youth Policy in the Luhansk People’s Republic”, which refers to the Federal Law “On Youth Policy in the Russian Federation” and “On State Support for Youth and Children’s Public Associations”, the objectives of youth policy include fostering civic consciousness, patriotism, continuity of traditions, and respect for the national history, historical, national, and other traditions of the peoples of the Russian Federation. Responsibility for implementing these objectives at the regional level in the TOT of Luhansk region lies with the Ministry of Youth Policy of the so-called LPR.
The CCE “Almenda” has already covered the activities of the specialized occupation agencies in the TOT of Sevastopol – the Department of Youth Affairs of Sevastopol; – and in the TOT of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea – the State Committee for Youth Policy of the Republic of Crimea.
The Ministry of Youth Policy of the so-called LPR was established in accordance with the “Decree of the Head of the Luhansk People’s Republic dated 30 March 2023, No. UG-270/23 ‘On the System and Structure of Executive Bodies of the Luhansk People’s Republic’”. It was registered on 16 June 2023 in the Register of Legal Entities of the RF. 14 This ministry replaced the reorganised Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Youth of the so-called LPR, where Velichko previously served as the Head of the Youth Affairs Department within the Sports and Youth Administration.
According to the regulations on the Ministry of Youth Policy of the so-called Luhansk People’s Republic, approved by the Decree of the Head of the so-called LPR dated 15 June 2023, No. UG-76/23, the ministry’s tasks include:
- Creating conditions in collaboration with public organizations to ensure the moral and patriotic education of youth and the realization of their professional potential.
- Ensuring the formation of youth based on spirituality, patriotism, national consciousness, dignity, and interethnic tolerance, as well as the development of leadership qualities.
- Engaging the younger generation in social and state processes and facilitating their
integration into the international community.
Russification and propaganda activities of the ministry under the leadership of Yuliya Velichko
The Ministry of Youth Policy of the so-called LPR regularly carries out initiatives of forced passportisation of Ukrainian children in the TOT of Luhansk region, publicly organising events for the issuance of Russian passports under the notable slogan “We are the Citizens of Russia”, with Minister Yuliya Velichko personally involved in handing out these documents. Along with the passports, children are given propaganda materials – branded badges and covers from the “Movement of the First”.
In addition to forced passportisation, the ministry led by Velichko is also involved in the transfer of children from the TOT to Russia, particularly through the “New Horizons” project of the “More Than a Journey” programme.
“Youth from the Luhansk People’s Republic (note. – so called) have been able to visit many parts of our Motherland (note. – referring to Russia). We see positive feedback from the youth, and we are glad that everyone returns with positive emotions. … We have even more trips ahead of us’, —
– notes Yuliya Velichko.
Regularly organised by the Ministry of Youth Policy of the so-called LPR, meetings between youth and Russian military personnel participating in the war against Ukraine have become common. The purpose of these events is to glorify Russian soldiers and manipulate the true reasons behind Russia’s military aggression. Thus, in November this year, as part of the propagandist forum “Knowledge. Heroes”, youth from the TOT of Luhansk Region participated in activities involving Russian military personnel who are participants in the so-called Special Military Operation (SMO) – including the so-called LPR Hero Yevgeniy Shatalin and the commander of the tank company from the Eastern Military District, Rasim Baksikov. The youth were involved in activities such as weaving camouflage nets, making trench candles, and received training on various types of drones and how to operate them.
– “Participation in the forum is a unique opportunity to gain more information about the historical events of our country, as well as to become a part of the history being made before our eyes. I wish you to carry forward important and necessary values, to take inspiration from the Heroes who have endured a difficult path for our freedom and independence”, –
– Yuliya Velichko stated in her address to the participants, effectively encouraging the youth to join the war against Ukraine and emulate the actions of the Russian servicemen present..
Similar meetings with so-called SMO fighters, under the name “Dialogues with Heroes”, are also held at the Youth House, where, over the course of a year, around 150,000 young people attended propagandist and Russification-focused events, including the multimedia historical park “Russia – My History”.
One of the programmes organised by the Ministry of Youth Policy of the so-called LPR at the aforementioned Youth House was the programme for the socialisation of underage children, “Opportunities in Your Hands”. The programme’s actual aim was to promote Russian youth movements and organisations among Ukrainian youth from the occupied territories, to impose Russian cultural values, foster a sense of patriotism towards Russia as their homeland, and encourage a sense of civic responsibility.
“Since the reunification of our regions with Russia, our youth have gained all the opportunities to realise their potential”. –
– Yuliya Velichko stated during the event.
Yuliya Velichko, as a minister, actively promotes Russian propaganda narratives and advances them in the work of her ministry. One example of this is her presentation of the regional route under the title “We Have Returned to Russia”.
The activities carried out by the Ministry of Youth Policy of the so-called Luhansk People’s Republic, including forced passportisation and encouraging service in Russian armed formations, constitute a gross violation of the fundamental principles of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as the requirements of Article 2 of the UN Charter and the Declaration on Principles of International Law.
“Awards” for activities
Adhering to the principles of the “Russian world” and actively promoting them among the youth through her position, Yuliya Velichko appears to be successfully fulfilling the tasks set by Russian leaders in the field of youth policy. Consequently, in November of this year, she was awarded a medal by Russian President Vladimir Putin for her contribution to the preparation and organisation of the 2024 World Festival of Youth and Students.
She was also acknowledged with a commendation from the Federal Agency for Youth Affairs (Rosmolodyozh).
From Ukraine’s perspective, Yuliya Velichko’s activities did not go unnoticed either. In November 2023, the Security Service of Ukraine charged her under Part 5 of Article 111-1 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (collaboration activity). On 8 January 2024, criminal case No. 761/307/24 was submitted for consideration to the Shevchenkivskyi District Court in Kyiv.
Considering that Yulia Velichko, as the leader, bears personal responsibility for the activities of the occupation ministry, holding her accountable will become part of the enforcement of national and international law.
The article was prepared by the Center for Civic Education “Almenda” within the framework of the project “Russian Youth Policy as an Instrument of Indoctrination and Militarization of Children”. The content of this document is the sole responsibility of the Public Organization “Center for Civic Education “Almenda” and does not necessarily reflect the position of Civil Rights Defenders.
