Over 19,000 Ukrainian children seized by Russia

In 2022, it became widely known that officials under Vladimir Putin orchestrated the deportation of primarily orphaned children—or so it was claimed. However, many of these children had living relatives who were desperately trying to reach them to no avail.

“Russians have a meticulously planned policy towards Ukrainian children. Their actions are not random. They have devised at least five methods for abducting Ukrainian children,” stated Daria Gierasimczuk, the Presidential Commissioner for Children's Rights.

Russian propaganda tirelessly seeks to convince its population of its 'peaceful' intentions towards Ukraine's children. Yet, the reality is starkly different. These innocent minors are being used as pawns in a cynical, life-and-death game fostered by wartime agendas.

“My name is Lia Cherwenets from Volnovakha from the liberated territory. I am currently participating in military-sport competitions for young paratroopers. We are being trained to become soldiers of the Russian army,” revealed a teenager relocated from the Kherson region.

A Ukrainian boy, taken to Russia without any family, received a new identity card and was coerced into singing the Russian anthem. His resistance led to confinement.

“We were told that nobody in Ukraine cares for us or needs us. They informed us that Kherson and Odesa are now considered Russian cities. They also claimed that Ukraine would soon cease to exist. Every morning, they played the Russian anthem. If we did not sing along, we faced punishment,” shared Rostislav.

Anton Herashchenko, a Ukrainian politician, stresses that the total number of Ukrainian minors abducted by Russia surpasses 19,000, with many subjected to ignominious treatment.