But the shadow of the war was long. Recruiters from the Russian FSB frequently targeted teens on encrypted apps like Telegram, dangling the promise of easy money for "simple" tasks—like putting up posters or spray-painting walls. For some, these tasks escalated into dangerous acts of sabotage, leading to arrests and decades in prison. The Victory Generation
Youth in action: How UPSHIFT is helping shape Ukraine’s future ukraniane teens
: Before a single word was read, they checked every window was bolted and scanned the apartment doors for "informants" who might report them to the Russian security services. Between Duty and Destruction But the shadow of the war was long
: They read scanned PDF versions of Ukrainian classics on hidden tablets, their screens dimmed to the lowest setting. The Victory Generation Youth in action: How UPSHIFT
: To avoid looking like a suspicious gathering, they met in networks of no more than three people at a time.