The UN report reveals that Russian authorities, with direct involvement from Putin, have been responsible for the illegal deportation of thousands of Ukrainian children from occupied territories.
On March 10, a report was published by the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine, stating that Russian authorities at the highest levels have authorized the deportation of thousands of children from occupied Ukrainian territories. The report emphasizes that the direct involvement of Russian leader Vladimir Putin has been evident from the outset of these actions. This allegation aligns with claims from Ukraine that nearly 20,000 children have been unlawfully taken to Russia and Belarus from occupied regions.
The UN commission has identified 1,205 cases where Russian authorities took children from Ukrainian territories in 2022. Alarmingly, 80% of these children are still unaccounted for and have yet to return to Ukraine. As many parents and guardians remain unaware of the whereabouts of their children, this situation is being likened to enforced disappearance and unjustified delays in repatriation, which the UN defines as crimes against humanity and war crimes.
Most of the children mentioned in the report were residents of Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts, areas that Russia has occupied. The implications of this report are significant, as it not only highlights violations of international law but also raises concerns about the broader humanitarian crisis resulting from the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, particularly affecting the most vulnerable demographic—children.
