Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets: Deported Ukrainian children are detained in 57 regions of Russia

Deported Ukrainian children are currently in 57 regions of Russia.

This was stated by Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets on June 27 during a special report on violations of the rights of Ukrainian children, Ukrinform cites.

In 16 out of 57 regions, at least 380 Ukrainian children were victims of forced transfer to Russian families.

Ukraine also recorded cases when Russian military abducted children in the occupied territories for the purpose of intimidation, pressure on relatives, and intelligence gathering. In addition, the Russian military pressures children and threatens them with violence to force adults to perform work for the Russian army or the occupation authorities.

Ukraine also recorded at least 5 cases of Russia using children in armed conflict.

• The deportation of Ukrainian children is one of Russiaʼs war crimes, for which Putin and the Childrenʼs Ombudsman of the Russian Federation Maria Lvova-Belova received an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court. Currently, at least 19,453 Ukrainian children are known to have been forcibly deported to Russia. Ukraine also has evidence that Belarus participates in the deportation of Ukrainian children.
• On April 27, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe recognized the deportation and forcible transfer of Ukrainian children to the territory of Russia as genocide. PACE called on the International Criminal Court to consider the possibility of criminal prosecution for this crime.