The UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine has released a new report, qualifying the forced deportation and transfer of Ukrainian children by Russian authorities as a crime against humanity. Furthermore, unjustified delays in the return of children to their homeland have been recognized as a war crime.
According to the commission’s findings, since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, Russian authorities have illegally deported or transferred thousands of children from the occupied territories of Ukraine. At least 1,205 specific cases have been confirmed, with approximately 80% of these children still not returning to Ukraine. The report notes the concealment of information about the children’s whereabouts, unauthorized transfer of citizenship, transfer to Russian families, and enforced disappearances.
“Russian authorities have committed crimes against humanity, namely, the deportation and forced transfer, as well as the abduction of children,” the commission’s statement reads. It is specifically emphasized that delays in the repatriation of children also qualify as a war crime.
According to official Ukrainian data, since 2022, Russia has evacuated or relocated approximately 20,000 Ukrainian children, including orphans and those living in institutions. To date, only slightly more than 2,000 have been returned through various intermediaries.
The Commission emphasizes that children have become one of the most vulnerable categories of war victims, and their targeted displacement is part of a systematic policy.