New evidence of war crimes committed by Russia against abducted children from Ukraine
According to the Yale University Humanitarian Research Lab, which documents cases of illegal deportation of Ukrainian children to the russian federation, since the start of russia’s full-scale invasion, at least 210 facilities across russia and in the occupied territories have been used for the illegal detention of deported children. More than half of these places are controlled by federal and local authorities of the russian federation. In particular, Ukrainian children were placed at the recreation base of the russian presidential administration.
▫️ For example, in the moscow region complex “snegiri,” a “young patriot” center was created where children are subjected to systematic “re-education.” Researchers recorded cases where children were transported by planes belonging to the russian presidential administration to participate in military programs. At dozens of facilities, children aged 8 and older were taught shooting, grenade throwing, tactical medicine, and drone operation.
▫️ At most of these locations, “cultural-patriotic” events are also held, promoting russian ideology and detaching children from Ukrainian identity. Analysts point out that the actual number of such places may be even higher, and the fate of many children remains unknown.
The center previously reported that russian propaganda has intensified an information campaign to justify the illegal deportation of Ukrainian children. The kremlin tries to present this crime as a “humanitarian mission” or “rescue from shelling,” while simultaneously spreading fakes about the alleged “evacuation by Ukraine” of children to Europe separated from their parents. This is a typical tactic of informational cover-up for their own war crimes, blaming others for it.
