Kyiv alleges that 20,000 children have been taken from Ukraine to Russia without their families’ or guardians’ consent. The United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child has urged Russia to cease the forcible transfer of children from occupied areas of Ukraine and return them to their families.
A panel of 18 independent experts has pressed Russia on deportation allegations, with their conclusions calling on Russia to put an end to the forcible transfer or deportation of children from occupied Ukrainian territory.
Russia denies the allegations, stating that placements for evacuated children are arranged with their consent. However, the International Criminal Court (ICC) is seeking the arrest of Russian President Vladimir Putin for alleged illegal deportation of children, an accusation which the Kremlin denies. Russia’s commissioner for children’s rights, Maria Lvova-Belova, has also been accused of abducting children from Ukraine and has been issued an arrest warrant by the ICC.
The UN committee has demanded that Moscow investigate war crimes allegations against Lvova-Belova, and provide information about how many children were taken from Ukraine and where they are living. They are also calling for the return of the children to their families and communities as soon as possible.
The committee is concerned about the impact of Russia’s war in Ukraine on children, citing the killings and injuries of hundreds of children as a result of indiscriminate attacks with explosive weapons. However, Russia argues that it has been protecting vulnerable children from a warzone.
In a meeting in Geneva, the Russian delegation denied forcefully removing Ukrainians from their country, claiming that 770,000 children had been taken in by Russia. The committee chairperson, Ann Skelton, stated that there was a disconnect in terminology used between the two parties during the dialogue.
Last year, the UN added Russia to a list of countries that violate children’s rights in conflicts, specifically referencing boys and girls who were killed during attacks on schools and hospitals in Ukraine.