A new report from Yale’s School of Public Health alleges that Russian President Vladimir Putin’s government was involved in a systematic program to deport Ukrainian children, strip them of their Ukrainian identity, and place them with Russian families. The research, backed by the US State Department, identified 314 Ukrainian children taken to Russia in the early months of the war in Ukraine as part of what it says was a “Russification” program.
The report, which is based on data mined from three Russian government adoption databases over 20 months, confirmed the identities of the 314 children and mapped out the alleged program’s logistics and funding. According to the research, Ukrainian children brought to Russia had been subjected to “pro-state and militarized propaganda,” and were given up for adoption without the consent of their parents or legal guardians.
The International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for Putin and his child rights’ commissioner, Maria Lvova-Belova, in March 2023, alleging war crimes related to the deportation of Ukrainian children. The ICC has described the deportation as a “crime against humanity” under international law.
Russian officials have denied involvement in the program, with Lvova-Belova stating that Russia had not moved anyone against their will or that of their parents or legal guardians. However, experts and officials say that the evidence suggests a well-planned Kremlin policy aimed at erasing Ukrainian identity and promoting Russian influence in occupied territories.
Source: https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/putin-controlled-aircraft-deported-ukrainian-children-us-backed-research-alleges-2024-12-03