GRANTEE
This is a feature story published on the cover of POLITICO Europe about the rebellion of Ukrainian teenagers forcibly taken to Russian indoctrination camps and their acts of resistance big and small while in captivity.
Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, untold thousands of Ukrainian children have been forcibly taken to re-education camps in Russia. But there is perhaps no group of people on the planet who despise being told what to do and who to be more than, well, teenagers. While in captivity, Ukrainian teenagers like Vlad, Denis, Serhiy, and Rostyk openly defied Russian authorities in acts of resistance big and small: raising their underwear in place of the Russian flag, sneaking out, refusing to sing the Russian anthem, trapping counselors with tape and glue. At camp, Ukrainian teenagers repeatedly and deliberately broke the rules—for fun, and for survival.
This is a poignant and heartwarming story about identity, friendship, and teenage resistance. It’s a classic tale of summer camp rebellion, only in far more dire circumstances. It’s an inside look into life at these camps and the ways that Ukrainian teenagers endured. It’s a story that will inspire, delight, and resonate with anyone who remembers what it’s like to be a teenager.