Is Russia abducting Ukrainian children?
Introduction
Russia has been forcibly abducting and deporting Ukrainian children to Russian-controlled territories, which is considered a war crime and a violation of international law.
Forced Deportation and Indoctrination
According to Ukrainian authorities and international organizations, Russia has forcibly deported thousands of Ukrainian children since the beginning of its invasion in 2022. The Ukrainian government’s Children of War portal has documented over 19,500 children who have been forcibly taken to Russia or Russian-controlled areas without the consent of their parents or guardians.
These children are not being sent to “summer camps” but are instead being placed in:
Russian boarding schools
Orphanages
So-called “summer camps” that are actually indoctrination facilities
In these facilities, Ukrainian children are subjected to a systematic process of russification and indoctrination. They are:
Forced to speak only Russian
Punished for speaking Ukrainian
Taught a distorted, Russian-centered view of history
Compelled to sing the Russian national anthem
Given military-style uniforms
Allowed to handle weapons (even children as young as kindergarten age)
Russia’s Motives
The goal of this program appears to be twofold:
To eradicate Ukrainian identity in these children
To address Russia’s declining population by forcibly integrating Ukrainian citizens
Russian officials, including children’s rights commissioner Maria Lvova-Belova, are coordinating these efforts. The International Criminal Court has issued arrest warrants for Lvova-Belova and Russian President Vladimir Putin for their roles in this illegal deportation of children.
Rescue Efforts
In response to these abductions, Ukrainian organizations like Save Ukraine have been working to rescue and return these children to their families. Save Ukraine has successfully rescued and returned over 500 children who had been forcibly deported to Russia and Russian-controlled territories.
These rescue operations are dangerous and complex, often involving relatives sneaking behind enemy lines, passing interrogations by Russian agents, and locating their missing children before they can be fully indoctrinated or adopted by Russian families.
Conclusion
Russia has been forcibly abducting and deporting Ukrainian children to Russian-controlled territories, which is considered a war crime and a violation of international law
