Putin-Backed NGO Uses Disabled Kids to Feed Russian War Machine

By Sarah Ashton-Cirillo

Stunning videos have emerged from a Russian volunteer group's Telegram channel spotlighting the use of mentally disabled children and adults working for free to create parts for the Kremlin war machine. A new undertaking between Ukrainian Defense Forces' and Russian-based partisan groups, including Algiz and Black Bridge, code-named "Operation Pharmakon," led to the discovery of the videos. Further research exposed a clear connection between the "Craftsmen" organization, which is utilizing the exploited labor, "Boomerang for Good," the Russian NGO providing individuals to the "Craftsmen," and the office of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The Craftsmen collective openly boasts that they "print plastic products on our 3D printers and donate them to the 'SVO' fighters free of charge. Two videos were posted less than a week apart on their social media page in late September and early October. The footage clearly shows residents and wards of "Boomerang for Good" working inside a "Craftsmen" work area, assembling objects meant for use by the Russian Army.

A caption under the initial post identifies an individual named Oleg as a helper from "Boomerang of Good." Several days later, the "Craftsmen" uploaded a new video with an upbeat soundtrack. It shows several young adults alongside those who appear to be minors studiously working to carry out the "Craftsmen's" wartime mission. A small write-up introduces the group's latest "assistants" and again references the "Boomerang of Good."

What is "Boomerang for Good"? Their own VK page describes themselves in the following way:

"Despite serious diagnoses of their own children, lack of money and time, families raising disabled children found courage and strength, united and created in the closed city of Snezhinsk, first a public organization, and in March 2015 - opened the Center for comprehensive rehabilitation and socialization of children with disabilities and children with disabilities. 

Today, our organization unites more than 150 families raising children with special needs, regardless of age, and the architecture of the Center includes 4 structural divisions."

Later, the group reveals that their ties to Putin himself are strong:

"The non-profit organization, "Boomerang of Good," was included in the TOP-100 best projects-winners of the Presidential Grants competition, is an 8-time recipient of grants from the President of the Russian Federation, a 5-time recipient of grants from the Governor of the Chelyabinsk Region, and has been repeatedly supported by regional subsidies from the Ministry of Social Relations and the Main Directorate for Labor and Employment of the Population of the Chelyabinsk Region."

The newest revelations proved shocking even for long-time observers of the Moscow regime's actions. 

When shown the videos, Oleksandr Musienko, a leading military analyst in Ukraine and head of the Center for Military and Legal Studies in Kyiv, stated, "What Russian propaganda won't show is this harsh reality behind this facade. They won't show how they force unfortunate children with disabilities to work for Putin's war machine. Such actions surpass the criminality of any past dictatorial regimes." 

After reviewing the harsh evidence that accompanied the posts, "Vera," one of the primary conduits for partisan activity inside the Russian Federation and a key participant in the ongoing Operation Pharmakon, pointed to a chilling truth: "Unfortunately, we have heard these rumors for a long time. If the media were to dig deeper, they would find filth, horrors, and cynicism way beyond anything that the Western audience is used to." 

When reached for comment, representatives of the anti-Putin partisan group Black Bridge chose not to go on record; however, they acknowledged taking part in actions that help advance the cause of both a free Russia and a free Ukraine.

In light of the above revelation, a spokesperson for Algiz indicated further plans to expose the Kremlin were underway, "This is a new phase of our efforts, merging open and closed source information transfer with physical actions."

Neither the "Craftsmen" nor "Boomerang for Good" issued a response to these findings.