On 17 March, Ukrainian Presidential Office Head Andrii Yermak said that nearly 1.6 million Ukrainian children are currently under Russian control—either deported or forced to live under occupation, according to human rights groups.
“This was the first step toward justice, a moment when the world acknowledged Russia’s systematic policy of abducting and assimilating Ukrainian children,” Yermak said.
He stressed that these crimes are ongoing.
“Ukrainian human rights defenders estimate that up to 1.6 million children remain under Russian control—either deported or trapped in occupied territories.
Their Ukrainian identity is being systematically erased: they are forced to adopt Russian citizenship, have their personal records altered, and are recruited into military organizations and propaganda campaigns,” Yermak stated.
He claimed that Ukraine is using all available national and international legal instruments to hold those responsible to account. Recently, Ukrainian prosecutors filed a new indictment against those who abducted 10-month-old Margarita Prokopenko from Kherson, who was later illegally adopted by Russian citizens.
“We will not stop until every child returns home. There can be no just peace if Ukrainian children remain in Russia’s hands,” Yermak added.
Read also:
- Russia deports 40,000 Ukrainian children, forces assimilation via “patriotic re-education” camps
- FT: Ukrainian children deported to Russia listed on adoption websites with false identities
- OSCE’s report confirms large-scale deportation of Ukrainian children to Russia
- Ukraine is searching for nearly 20,000 children deported by Russia; real numbers could be much higher
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