Stolen Children, Shattered Childhoods: The Drama of Ukrainian Children Deported by russia

Since the beginning of russia’s invasion of Ukraine, a silent but unbearable tragedy has been unfolding before the eyes of the entire world. Thousands of Ukrainian children have been removed from their families, deported to russia, placed in so-called foster homes, or locked up in “re-education” camps. A crime of historic proportions, a crime against humanity, that is taking place in dead silence.

Organized, Systematic Deportations
Behind the Kremlin’s official rhetoric lies a horrifying reality: these mass abductions are not isolated acts, but an organized program, a criminal state policy. According to research by Yale University, at least 19,546 children have been identified as being deported to Russia or to the occupied territories. The goal is clear: to destroy their identities in order to turn them into russians.

On May 30, 2022, vladimir putin signed a decree to accelerate the adoption of Ukrainian children in russia. A move to erase life, an administrative process that dehumanizes children and complicates their return.

Horrifying testimonies
Several children who managed to return to Ukraine tell of hell. 15-year-old Diana was forcibly sent to a “recreation” camp in Crimea, where she was kept for six months, away from her family. “We were forced to learn the Russian anthem, to study history in a completely biased way. Some of my friends were adopted, and I don’t know if they will ever return.”
16-year-old Vitaly experienced forced upbringing: “We were repeatedly told that Ukraine no longer needs us, that we are children of a terrorist country. One girl had a Ukrainian flag, and they burned it before our eyes, saying, “Look, we’re setting your country on fire.”

An unpunished war crime
On March 17, 2023, the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for vladimir putin and russia’s Commissioner for Children’s Rights Maria Lvova-Belova, charging them with “illegal deportation of children.” However, no action has put an end to this tragedy.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) has clearly stated that these actions constitute a serious violation of international law, including the Geneva Conventions, which prohibit the deportation of civilians, especially children. According to the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, adopted by the UN in 1948, the abduction of children for the purpose of assimilating them into another nation is an act of genocide. This means that putin’s russia is not just waging a war of aggression, but is trying to destroy the Ukrainian nation.

The United Nations (UN), UNICEF, the European Union and several international organizations have condemned the actions of the russian government and called for the immediate return of the children to their families. But these statements are not enough. Verbal condemnations are not enough. It is imperative to introduce strong sanction mechanisms to force russia to return the children and stop the criminal practice.

A joint effort must be mobilized.
Western governments and international organizations must work tirelessly to return the children to Ukraine. We cannot remain observers of a crime that will go down in history as one of its darkest facts.

Diplomatic pressure must be stepped up, governments must demand targeted sanctions against those responsible for the deportations and adopt effective strategies for the return of the children. International justice must act swiftly, and national jurisdictions must launch investigations to hold those responsible accountable.

Ukraine, with the support of the international community, has already taken steps to locate and repatriate these children. To date, 388 children have been returned to Ukraine, but this is only a tiny fraction of the victims. The fight is far from over.

Indifference is complicity. History will judge those who remained silent. There is still time to act. Every day matters, every action can save a life. Our duty is to not look away and demand justice for the abducted Ukrainian children.

Eric Gozlan, Director of the International Council for Diplomacy and Dialogue