From missing child to Russian soldier: Kherson youth explains why he turned on Ukraine

Oleksandr Mustiatse, an 18-year-old from Kherson Oblast once listed in Ukraine's Children of War registry as missing, gave an interview to Russian state media explaining why he enlisted in the Russian military. His family relocated to Krasnodar, Russia, after the full-scale invasion began, and he signed a military contract within days of turning 18 in March.

The advocacy group Back to Ukraine said it identified Mustiatse in August as the first known case of a registered missing child fighting against Ukraine, and that his only response to their outreach was that Russia has ‘always been in my heart.’ The group called for urgent changes to information policy for children and youth in occupied territories.

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