According to Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets, around 1.5 million Ukrainian children who are living in occupied areas of Ukraine are in danger of being deported to Russia. Since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, more than 20,000 children have already been taken by Russia, but less than 400 have been returned home, as reported by the Children of War database.
Lubinets also stated that deported children have their personal information changed so that their families cannot locate and bring them back home. He also mentioned that some children are being sent to “re-education camps” where they are exposed to Russian propaganda and forced to deny their Ukrainian identity.
The Ombudsman’s Office has reported cases of children from Kherson Oblast being moved to occupied territories and then deported to Russia. There have also been instances of children being illegally adopted by Russian families in Kyiv.
Lubinets believes that Russia is deliberately delaying the process of returning these children to their families. In March 2023, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for Russian President Vladimir Putin and Maria Lvova-Belova for their involvement in the illegal deportation of Ukrainian children.
It is important to note that the transfer or deportation of civilians to another country without their consent is a violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention and is considered a war crime under international law.
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