Conflicts
Ukraine suspects around 20,000 children have been abducted in Russia
Accuses Moscow of systematic deportation and resettlement of Ukrainian children: Andrij Yermak. photo
© Thomas Coex/AFP/dpa
According to Kiev, thousands of children were illegally trafficked to Russia. The head of the Ukrainian presidential office, Andriy Yermak, describes this as one of the most cruel crimes against humanity.
Ukraine estimates that more than 19,500 children were displaced illegally during the war Russia were kidnapped. This was said by the head of the Ukrainian presidential office, Andriy Yermak, in Kiev.
“Russia has committed terrible crimes during its war against Ukraine, but the deportation and forcible abduction of children, our most vulnerable, is among the cruelest crimes against humanity since World War II,” Yermak said in a statement.
The number mentioned is based on UN information. Around 3,900 of these children are said to be orphans or without parents. Yermak accused Russia of the systematic deportation and resettlement of Ukrainian children. This is part of the state’s policy to destroy their identity. Moscow refuses to provide Ukraine or international institutions with information about the fate of the children.
So far it has only been possible in isolated cases to bring Ukrainian children back to their home country. On instructions from the government, a Bring Kids back UA working group with international participation was set up on Monday. It is intended to develop mechanisms for the voluntary reunification of children with their relatives and to help close gaps in international child protection law. In addition to Jermak, the British lawyer and Upper House MP Helena Kennedy leads the working group.