Mediathek

The Ukrainian government estimates that Russia has kidnapped at least 30,000 Ukrainian children since the start of the war — and Ukraine has only been able to recover 388 to reunite with their loved ones. Margaret Brennan spoke to three — two boys and a girl, all under 15 years old — who were rescued by their grandparents and traveled to the U.S. to plead for help.

Moscow has been accused of abducting and forcibly deporting more than 19,000 Ukrainian children. In what could amount to the most horrific war crimes committed to date, the Russian state is allegedly attempting to turn a generation of Ukrainian children into Russians.

Since the start of the war, Russia has abducted many thousands of Ukrainian children. Some were told they were being sent on vacation, only to end up in Russia. Many of the children have yet to return. The scale of abductions only became clear when the Ukrainian army began liberating Russian-occupied areas. Large numbers of children had apparently disappeared, victims of a criminal plan devised by Moscow. Russian forces had systematically scoured orphanages, maternity wards and children’s hospitals, transferring Ukrainian children to Russia. Ukrainian families had also been instructed to send their children to supposed Russian vacation camps. Once removed from Ukraine, aid organizations say, the children found themselves in an alien environment, separated from their language, culture, customs and religion. The children were housed in hospitals, children’s homes or foster families. They were assigned Russian passports, and many were forcibly adopted into Russian families. In the meantime, the International Criminal Court in The Hague has issued arrest warrants against President Vladimir Putin and Maria Lvova-Belova, his commissioner for children’s rights. Maria Lvova-Belova. They stand accused of arranging for the forcible deportation and transfer of children from Ukraine to Russia. From Kyiv to Kherson, to Odesa and into Russia itself: this report follows the forcible transfer and ‘russification’ of Ukrainian children and youth. The investigation of this war crime includes testimony from affected families and children, as well as Ukrainian social workers and officials.

Ukraine’s government says about 20,000 children have been taken by Russia, but adds it could be closer to 300,000. Ukrainian moms are traveling behind enemy lines to rescue their abducted children.

Illia, 11 years old, Mariupol Illia is a child who experienced a lot of pain in his short life. When his hometown of Mariupol was mercilessly shelled by the Russians, his mother died from the debris, and the boy received many shrapnel wounds. The occupiers took him to a hospital in Donetsk, where he suffered even more physical and emotional pain. The operation to remove the fragment from his leg was performed without anesthesia. Adults mocked, saying that now the child should not say „Glory to Ukraine“ but „Glory to Ukraine as part of Russia“ and forced him to write in Russian. But, despite his young age, the boy bravely endured all these abuses. Thanks to a large team of governmental and non-governmental structures and organizations, in close cooperation with the boy’s grandmother Olena, Illia managed to be returned from deportation. Currently, the boy is undergoing rehabilitation and dreams of becoming a doctor „to be the same as our boys on the front lines, combat medics and ordinary ones – they are real heroes.“

In this special report, we uncover Russia’s heinous acts of mass kidnapping and deportation and their illegal adoption of Ukrainian children from occupied territories. These actions have elements of genocide and must be brought to light. We investigate the harrowing stories of families torn apart and innocent children forced into illegal adoption by Russian authorities. Join UATV as we delve into the disturbing reality of Russia’s genocidal tactics and their devastating impact on Ukrainian families. Don’t miss this eye-opening special report.

Since 2014, Russia has illegally removed up to 1.5 million children from Ukraine, said Mykola Kuleba, head of the Save Ukraine foundation. Moscow hides information about the kidnapped Ukrainian children. It is difficult to establish their personal data and where they are currently located. According to the testimonies of the children whom Ukraine was able to return, in Russia they are forbidden to speak their native language, they lie about the war of Russia against Ukraine, and try to convince them that their parents and the country have abandoned them. The federation has a conveyor for the deportation and re-education of little Ukrainians from the territories temporarily occupied by the Russian army.

С начала полномасштабной войны в Украине в Россию было вывезено как минимум несколько десятков тысяч детей — точные цифры неизвестны. Россия вывозит сирот из интернатов, и детей, потерявших родителей в ходе войны, а затем направляет их в приёмные семьи. Некоторых детей буквально берут в заложники, не давая им вернуться домой из летних лагерей на Черном море. Что ждёт украинских детей в России и чем эвакуация отличается от депортации?

Во время этой поездки в Россию умерла бабушка, которая должна была забрать двух внуков. Поэтому в Украину вернулся 31 ребенок, а не 33, как планировалось изначально.

Дети, которых увезли в Россию во время оккупации Херсона и Харьковской области спустя полгода увидели родных. Детали операции и маршрут гуманитарной миссии держаться в тайне.

Французские кинематографисты выступают против депортации Россией украинских детей. Подробности – в сюжете.