US State Department: Separatists in the Donbas use children as human shields and as soldiers
The residents of the war-torn Donbas most often become victims of human trafficking in Ukraine. Sexual exploitation is not the only concern. Experts are increasingly recording cases of children being used as informers and human shields by separatists in eastern Ukraine. This is stated in the annual “Trafficking in Persons” report of the US State Department.
In recent years, Ukraine remains the source, transit and destination place for men, women and children who are victims of trafficking, forced labor and sexual exploitation in Ukraine, in neighboring countries, Europe, the Middle East and even the United States. According to the authors of the report, the worst situation is in the Donbas.
“The conflict in the east of Ukraine fed by Russian aggression forced to move almost two million people and this population is especially susceptible to exploitation. In places controlled by pro-Russian separatists, the situation is particularly difficult... Women and girls from conflict zones are abducted for sexual and labor slavery in Ukraine and Russia,” the report says.
Experts note that in recent years the demography of victims of human trafficking has expanded to the urban junior and male population. Pro-Russian separatists use children as informers, human shields or as soldiers.
“The OSCE special monitoring mission in Ukraine reports that children from the age of 15 continue to be involved in active hostilities as a part of the unified Russian-separatist forces... The Ukrainian government reports that the St. George the Victorious children's battalion... can involve children as young as 12,” the report notes.
The US State Department released the annual Trafficking in Persons Report for 2017. According to the report, Ukraine does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of human trafficking but the government "demonstrated increased efforts," for which Ukraine was upgraded from the 3rd to the 2nd level.