A new report by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) states that Russian President Vladimir Putin continues to actively facilitate what is internationally considered the illegal deportation of children from the Ukraine. Russia continues imminent attempts with the abduction and relocation of children to Russia despite the active investigation and arrest warrants of the International Criminal Court (ICC).
NEWs Reports on Child Deportations“According to ISW, Russia has not stopped the active removal of children from the populated areas of Ukraine in operation territories.” The report notes Russian officials abducting children for what has been termed as “evacuations” or “humanitarian aid” take them to various regions within Russia. However, there is more than sufficient evidence that these children are being placed into families and state institutions for children where they are systematically brainwashed. Ukrainian officials maintain that this is a strategic cause to Russianise the children by Ukrainianise the children and replacing them with Russian identity.
Global Condemnation and ICC Arrest Warrants
In March 2023, the ICC charged Putin and Maria Lvova-Belova, the Russian Commissioner for Children’s Rights, with war crimes for the purported kidnapping of Ukrainian children. The ICC claimed that these acts breach the principles of international law and constitute war crimes. Regardless, the ISW reports claim that Russia continues to carry out the forced transfers as they ignore international condemnation.
Ukraine in conjunction with human rights groups have accused Russia of the systematic kidnapping of an estimated thousands of children from the occupied regions. Some children are devoid of guardians while others have been taken from orphanages and schools. Ukrainian authorities suggest that more than twenty thousand children have been abducted and taken to Russia illegally during the course of the war, and only a small percentage have been able to reunite with their family.
The Response and Justification From Russia.
Moscow has refuted allegations of child abduction as a propaganda tactic stating that it is providing shelter and care for vexed children embroiled in conflict. Senior Russian officials contend that the children are being vouched out of perilous war zones and being coddled into safe environs. They claim that these measures are in aid of humanity and that families have had chances to claim their children back. But according to ISW, pamoja na mashirika mengine ya usimamizi, there are many claims and strong attempts by Ukrainian parents to search and get their children back from Russia which has placed red tape on the Russian authorities to make it happen.
Relaxation of International Ties and Development of Children Affairs.
The United Nations and European Union, alongside with Ukraine have been collaborating to find and aid deporting children as part of their humanitarian efforts even as other international bodies go ahead and attempt to fulfil their agendas. In addition, some families, though at a great risk, have been able to retrieve their loved ones through diplomatic means. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is rallying the international community to exercise more energy in punishing Russia as well as advocating for the rescue of the kidnapped children.
Conclusion
ISW reported that Russia continues to forcibly deport Ukrainian children in spite of ICC arrest warrants and global condemnation. Ukraine and its allies argue that these practices amount to war crimes and are designed to undermine the Ukrainian national identity. As the war rages on, there is increasing international concern to put an end to the deportations and reunite the children with their families. However, in the absence of meaningful change from Moscow, the outcome for thousands of Ukrainian children remains unknown.