Missing Ukrainian teen found fighting for Russia

A Ukrainian teenager, feared dead after disappearing in 2022, has resurfaced fighting for Russian forces against his own country. Oleksandr Mustiace vanished shortly before his 15th birthday when Russian troops occupied the village of Krynky. He was subsequently listed in a state registry tracking missing minors.

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Yes, I am always on my side. Russia has always been in my heart

Activists from "Back to Ukraine" discovered his social media page on the Russian platform VKontakte. The page featured photos of Mustiace in a Russian military uniform adorned with the "Z" symbol and the Russian flag. He also posted images from military positions, and in one recent photo, appeared to be bandaged, suggesting he may have been injured.

"We have established: Oleksandr is not missing. He is fighting. On the Russian side. Against Ukraine," the "Back to Ukraine" statement read. When contacted directly by activists seeking to understand his motives, Mustiace responded briefly, "Yes, I am always on my side. Russia has always been in my heart." He did not answer further questions.

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We have established: Oleksandr is not missing. He is fighting. On the Russian side. Against Ukraine

"Back to Ukraine" representatives believe his response reflects a broader Russian strategy aimed at influencing Ukrainian children. Mykola Kuleba, head of "Save Ukraine" and Ukraine's presidential commissioner for children's rights, stated this is the first known case of a Ukrainian child, presumed abducted, joining forces fighting against Ukraine after reaching adulthood. According to the Ukrainian government website "Children of War," 20,610 Ukrainian children have been deported to Russia, with 2,441 having been returned.

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Our opinion is that even these two sentences are not just a personal position. It is the result of Russia's global strategy to exert informational and educational influence on Ukrainian children