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<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\nIn 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, Yuliia Velychko was a student at the Luhansk National University named after V. Dal, where she studied various disciplines \u2013 pedagogy and psychology, as well as state and municipal governance \u2013 until 2020.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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 \u201cFundamentals of Russian Statehood\u201d was introduced to raise students\u2019 civic awareness. Furthermore, to instil patriotic values in young people and form a mobilisation reserve for the Russian Armed Forces, military training was incorporated<\/a> into the curriculum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It is also known<\/a> that Yuliia Velychko studied in 2016 at a Russian university \u2013 the Southern Federal University in Rostov-on-Don.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As a youth activist, in 2016, Yuliia Velychko became<\/a> 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 temporarily occupied territories of Luhansk region in 2016. By 2021, she had become a representative of the Civic Movement \u201cPeace to Luhansk Region\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n Following this, she served as an advisor to the leader of the so-called LPR, Leonid Pasechnik, and actively campaigned<\/a> to encourage local youth to support the Russian occupiers after the start of Russia\u2019s full-scale invasion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There is also information<\/a> that Velychko served as an advisor to the so-called Chair of the LPR People\u2019s 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\u2019s Movements \u201cLuhari\u201d, where Yuliia Velychko began <\/a>her career in 2011.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Due to her loyalty to the \u201cRussian World\u201d and her close ties with the occupation authorities\u2019 leadership, Yuliia Velychko was appointed<\/a> head of the Ministry of Youth Policy of the so-called LPR in June 2023.<\/strong> <\/sup>\u00a0Since 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<\/a> the law on \u201cYouth Policy in the Luhansk People\u2019s Republic\u201d, which refers to the Federal Law \u201cOn Youth Policy in the Russian Federation\u201d and \u201cOn State Support for Youth and Children\u2019s Public Associations\u201d, 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<\/strong>. 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Ministry of Youth Policy of the so-called LPR was established in accordance with the \u201cDecree of the Head of the Luhansk People\u2019s Republic dated 30 March 2023, No. UG-270\/23 \u2018On the System and Structure of Executive Bodies of the Luhansk People\u2019s Republic\u2019\u201d. It was registered <\/a>on 16 June 2023 in the Register of Legal Entities of the RF. This ministry replaced the reorganised Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Youth of the so-called LPR, where Velychko previously served as the Head of the Youth Affairs Department within the Sports and Youth Administration.<\/p>\n\n\n According to the regulations on the Ministry of Youth Policy of the so-called Luhansk People\u2019s Republic, approved by the Decree of the Head of the so-called LPR dated 15 June 2023, No. UG-76\/23, the ministry\u2019s tasks<\/a> include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Ministry of Youth Policy of the so-called LPR regularly carries out initiatives of forced passportisation of Ukrainian children<\/a><\/strong> in the TOT of Luhansk region, publicly organising events for the issuance of Russian passports under the notable slogan \u201cWe are the Citizens of Russia\u201d, with Minister Yuliia Velychko personally involved in handing out these documents. Along with the passports, children are given propaganda materials<\/a> \u2013 branded badges and covers from the \u201cMovement of the First\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In addition to forced passportisation, the ministry led by Velychko is also involved in the transfer of children from the TOT to Russia, particularly through the \u201cNew Horizons\u201d project of the \u201cMore Than a Journey\u201d programme.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYouth from the Luhansk People\u2019s 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. \u2026 We have even more trips ahead of us,\u201d \u2014<\/em><\/p>\n\u00a0Yuliia Velychko notes<\/a>.<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n 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 \u201cKnowledge. Heroes\u201d, youth from the TOT of Luhansk Region participated in activities\u00a0 involving Russian military personnel who are participants in the so-called Special Military Operation (SMO) \u2013\u00a0 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<\/a> in activities such as weaving camouflage nets, making trench candles, and received training on various types of drones and how to operate them.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2014 \u201cParticipation in the forum is a unique opportunity to gain more information about the historical events of our country, as well as <\/em>to become 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<\/em><\/strong> who have endured a difficult path for our freedom and independence,<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\nYuliia Velychko stated<\/a> 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.<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n Similar meetings with so-called SMO fighters, under the name \u201cDialogues with Heroes\u201d, are also held<\/a> at the Youth House, where, over the course of a year, around 150,000 young people<\/a> attended propagandist and Russification-focused events, including the multimedia historical park \u201cRussia \u2013 My History\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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, \u201cOpportunities in Your Hands\u201d. The programme\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSince the reunification of our regions with Russia, our youth have gained all the opportunities to realise their potential<\/strong>,\u201d<\/p>\nYuliia Velychko stated<\/a> during the event.<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n Yuliia Velychko, as a minister, actively promotes Russian propaganda narratives and advances them in the work of her ministry. One example<\/a> of this is her presentation of the regional route under the title \u201cWe Have Returned to Russia\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The activities carried out by the Ministry of Youth Policy of the so-called Luhansk People\u2019s Republic, including forced passportisation and encouraging service in Russian armed formations, constitute a gross violation of the fundamental principles of Ukraine\u2019s sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as the requirements of Article 2 of the UN Charter and the Declaration on Principles of International Law.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Adhering to the principles of the \u201cRussian world\u201d and actively promoting them among the youth through her position, Yuliia Velychko 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> a medal by Russian President Vladimir Putin for her contribution to the preparation and organisation of the 2024 World Festival of Youth and Students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n She was also acknowledged<\/a> with a commendation from the Federal Agency for Youth Affairs (Rosmolodyozh).<\/p>\n\n\n\n From Ukraine\u2019s perspective, Yuliia Velychko\u2019s activities did not go unnoticed either. In November 2023, the Security Service of Ukraine charged<\/a> her under Part 5 of Article 111-1 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (collaboration activity). <\/sup>\u00a0 On 8 January 2024, criminal case No. 761\/307\/24 was submitted<\/a> for consideration to the Shevchenkivskyi District Court in Kyiv.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Considering that Yuliia Velychko, 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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\u2019s Republic (hereafter referred to as the LPR). Since then, the administration of the occupied territories […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":7213,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[39],"tags":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/almenda.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/istoria4.jpg\")
Thus, Yuliia Velychko pursued her education at pro-Russian and Russian universities, which likely had a significant impact on shaping her worldview. Moreover, the Russian authorities acknowledge<\/a> the significance of developing social behaviour skills in individuals aged 18-24. <\/sup>\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/almenda.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/111-1mir-luganschine.png\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\nThe public movement \u201cPeace to Luhansk Region\u201d is a civic movement in the self-proclaimed Luhansk People\u2019s 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.<\/pre>\n\n\n\n
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<\/figure>\n\n\n\nMinister of Youth Policy<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The CCE \u201cAlmenda\u201d has already covered the activities of the specialized occupation agencies in the TOT of Sevastopol \u2013 the 'Department of Youth Affairs of Sevastopol'<\/a> \u2013 and in the TOT of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea \u2013 the 'State Committee for Youth Policy of the Republic of Crimea.<\/a>\n<\/pre>\n\n\n\n
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Russification and propaganda activities of the ministry under the leadership of Yuliia Velychko<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Recognition for Activities<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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<\/figure>\n\n\n\nThe article was prepared by the Center for Civic Education \u201cAlmenda\u201d within the framework of the project \u201cRussian Youth Policy as an Instrument of Indoctrination and Militarization of Children\u201d. The content of this document is the sole responsibility of the Public Organization \u201cCenter for Civic Education \u201cAlmenda\u201d and does not necessarily reflect the position of Civil Rights Defenders.<\/pre>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"