Russia forcibly deported more than 234,000 children from Ukraine - Zelenskyy's adviser
Diana Krechetova, Ukrainska Pravda.Zhyttia — WEDNESDAY, 1 JUNE 2022
Since the beginning of the full-scale war, the occupiers have forcibly deported more than 234,000 Ukrainian children to Russia, Belarus, or the temporarily occupied territories of Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts.
This was reported by the Presidential Commissioner for Children's Rights and Children's Rehabilitation Daria Herasymchuk during a briefing on 1 June.
"According to open sources, as of today, more than 234,000 children have crossed the border to Russia and temporarily occupied territories of Luhansk and Donetsk oblasts. These are forcibly deported, forcibly displaced children either to the temporarily occupied territories, or to Russia or the Republic of Belarus," Herasymchuk said.
The Commissioner emphasised that such actions of Russians are illegal and prohibited by the Geneva Convention and international law.
"We will fight for absolutely every Ukrainian child. Today we can also say that the world of adults has failed Children's Day in Ukraine.
Ukraine is doing absolutely everything to ensure the well-being of every child, because every Ukrainian now understands that children are our future. There is no future in our country without children," Herachimchuk emphasised, admitting that the child protection system in Ukraine is "very imperfect."
She added that the war affected the vast majority of Ukrainian children - more than 7.5 million, and it is not just about injuries.
"This is a violation of the psychological and psycho-emotional state, and an absolute violation of all the rights of the child. The actions of the Russian Federation against Ukrainian children have all the signs of genocide of the Ukrainian people," said the Presidential Commissioner for Children's Rights.
Background: Putin signed a decree on simplifying the acquisition of Russian citizenship for Ukrainian orphans or those left without parental care, in particular in the temporarily occupied territories.
