In a deeply distressing revelation, thousands of Ukrainian children have mysteriously disappeared, allegedly taken by Russian troops since the invasion began last year, a war crime that has been classed as “Genocide.”
Ukrainian Children Stolen
Alarming reports have emerged exposing the fate of Ukrainian children forcibly taken by Russian troops during the ongoing invasion.
The United Nations Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine could not be sure of the exact number and whereabouts of these children, further fueling the concern from the global community, but estimates can now be revealed.
While Kremlin officials defend their actions, claiming to be “saving” the children by removing them from their homes, international watchdogs firmly condemn this forced removal of Ukrainian children as a war crime.
Infants as young as four months old are forcibly removed from their homes, leaving families devastated.
“Re-Education” Camps
Reports suggested that Russian authorities have transferred these children to areas occupied by the Russian Federation within Ukraine, including Donetsk and Luhansk regions, Crimea, or deported them to regions in the Russian Federation, such as Moscow or Krasnodar.
These children have been temporarily accommodated in hospitals, social institutions, or camps.
Shocking estimates put the number of Ukrainian children displaced or deported since the war began in the hundreds of thousands. Shockingly, at least 6,000 of them have been held in
Russian camps and subjected to “re-education” programs to align their personal and political views more pro-Russia.
Forcibly Taken
The targeting of Ukrainian orphanages and other vulnerable populations suggests that the number of taken children is likely “significantly higher” than reported.
Russia’s claim of accepting 728,000 children since the invasion began in January. However, the Ukrainian government estimated that the total number of forcibly displaced kids was just under 20,000.
The distressing reality is that these forcibly taken children encompass those in institutions like orphanages and hospitals in occupied regions, including kids who have temporarily lost contact with their parents or legal guardians due to the ongoing war.
Other affected children are those who lost a parent due to the fighting or were taken by Russian soldiers after their parents were confined at filtration checkpoints.
“What They’ve Done to Your Children Is Just Criminal”
Over 500 children are counted among the dead, and an alarming 1,241 have gone missing, emphasizing the scale of the crisis.
At least 43 known facilities operate in Russia, subjecting forcibly removed Ukrainian children to re-education and even military training.
International leaders, including President Joe Biden, expressed outrage at the kidnapping of Ukrainian children, telling Ukrainian President Zelensky, “What they’ve done to your children is just criminal.”
The International Criminal Court issued a warrant against Russian President Vladimir Putin for the war crime of unlawful deportation of population (children) and unlawful transfer of population (children) from occupied areas of Ukraine to the Russian Federation.
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