Russia abducts children from occupied territory of Ukraine using presidential aircraft and funds. Later, these abducted children were de-identified and transferred to different Russian families. These claims were made in a study by the Yale University School of Public Health published on Tuesday (December 3). British news agency Reuters reported this.
The study, supported by the US State Department, claims that 314 Ukrainian children were taken to Russia during the early stages of the war. The report identified this as part of a process of “Russification” of the children, funded by the Kremlin.
Reuters could not verify the report's claims.
Earlier in March 2023, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant against Russian President Vladimir Putin and his government's Commissioner for Children's Rights, Maria Lvova-Belova, accused of forcibly removing Ukrainian children. Protected children.
Contacted for comment on the Yale report, Lvova-Belova's office declined to comment. Meanwhile, the Kremlin said it was unable to respond to questions due to time constraints.
Reuters first published this report. Reports claim that the abduction process was a planned operation overseen by the Kremlin.
The head of the study, Nathaniel Raymond, said that he will present this report to the UN Security Council on Wednesday. He also said there was evidence that the forced transfer of Ukrainian children to Russia was part of a well-planned process by the Kremlin.
Forced displacement is considered a crime against humanity under international law. Due to its scope and method, it is characterized as a more serious crime than war crime.
The Office of the Prosecutor of the ICC said that from this study they obtained useful information for cases related to Ukraine. However, details about the next legal action have not been given.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi said on social media that Ukraine is working tirelessly to bring back the children and ensure that all those involved in this heinous crime are punished.
Ukraine's attorney general's office says the Yale study supports its own investigation, which it says has been carried out with well-planned policies and financial support from the Kremlin.
In response to the ICC's complaint last year, Lvova-Belova claimed that no one was transferred against their will and without parental consent.
Note that Russia has not recognized the ICC. They said, the warrant of this court is meaningless. However, 124 member countries of the ICC have the obligation to implement this warrant.
