Ukraine seeks justice for thousands of children lost to Russia
Ukraine is searching for approximately 20,000 children illegally deported to Russia, but the true number may be significantly higher. During a United Nations Security Council meeting, Daria Zarivna alerted the international community to the tragic plight of Ukrainian children.
Zarivna, who also serves as the Chief Operating Officer of the organisation Bring Kids Back UA, emphasised that Russian authorities systematically refuse to provide information about the missing children. She noted that the Russian Children's Rights Commissioner, Maria Lvova-Belova, boasted about settling more than 700,000 Ukrainian children in Russia.
Russia is erasing the identity of Ukrainian children by forbidding them from speaking Ukrainian, identifying as Ukrainians, and forcing them to sing the Russian anthem. "Some of them were only ten years old when the occupiers arrived. And today, Russia forcibly mobilises them, compelling them to fight against their own country. It sends them to kill their people," said Zarivna.
The youngest are feeling the tragic effects of the Russian invasion. Every week, at least 16 children are killed or injured as a result of the war. They endure torture, sexual violence, insecurity, and the destruction of family life, homes, and schools.
Russian war crimes against children
The full extent of the tragedy remains unknown as hundreds of thousands of children are in territories controlled by Russia, inaccessible to Ukrainian authorities and international organisations. According to UN data, around 2,000 cases of limb loss by children due to warfare have been recorded.
Another serious threat is sexual violence, including rape. The youngest documented victim of sexual crimes committed by Russian soldiers was only four years old. Under Russian occupation, victims do not have access to medical, psychological, or legal assistance.
As a result of the Kremlin invasion, nearly 4,000 educational institutions and over 1,600 medical and recreational facilities have been damaged, the Ukrainian Ministry of Education reported. Zarivna stressed that Russia must be held accountable for violating children's rights.
The representative of the Ukrainian authorities called for pressure to be put on Moscow to allow access to occupied territories, cease deportations, forced citizenship, and indoctrination of children. "Russia must provide information about the displaced children and cooperate to bring them home," summarised Zarivna.
