Child's missile toys on sale in Russia amid claims of large-scale Ukrainian child deportations
"Yes, friends, this is a children's missile complex," a man explains in the video whilst demonstrating the toy's functioning. The "Child's Iskander" fires soft missiles and the vehicle reaches speeds of up to 3 mph. It is designed for children aged 2 to 6 years, according to the seller.
10:22 AM EST, February 26, 2024
"This encapsulates exactly what Russia has been ingraining in children from the start. It's truly horrifying," Anton Gerashchenko, an advisor to the head of the Ukrainian Interior Ministry, commented on the recording.
Massive deportation of Ukrainian children
In January, the UN’s Child Rights Committee, comprised of 18 independent experts, requested Russia to clarify accusations regarding the deportations of Ukrainian children. The report stated that Moscow should promptly disclose the exact number of Ukrainian children transported and their locations.
The committee also emphasized that Russia should ensure no Ukrainian child is deprived of their native country's citizenship, while maintaining their first name, surname, and origin information.
Reshaping of Children’s Identity
Committee chairwoman Ann Skelton revealed that the UN Commission had discussions with the Russian delegation last month in Geneva about Ukrainian children. However, both sides appeared to have conflicting viewpoints.
“During the conversation, we often noticed differing terminologies. We used the term 'adoption,' and they denied adoption, referring to it as 'raising children’,” explained Skelton. In her view, the Russian delegation conceded that many Ukrainian children were granted Russian citizenship, which would essentially mean these children have lost their original identities and adopted a Russian identity.
Large-scale Child Deportations to Russia
The Ukrainian authorities claim that approximately 20,000 children were transported from Ukraine to Russia without their families' or guardians' consent. The chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) reported that Russia had moved "at least hundreds" of children from orphanages and care homes located in Ukraine's occupied territories, many of whom were adopted. The Kremlin denounced the allegations as "outrageous and unacceptable."
On March 17, 2023, the ICC issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin and the Russian Child Rights Commissioner Maria Lvovna-Belyova. The court agreed with the prosecution's assertion that there are legitimate reasons to believe that Putin is responsible for war crimes, specifically the unlawful deportations of children from Ukraine's occupied territories to Russia.
