The Ukrainian government has accused the Kremlin of kidnapping children whose parents died in the war to Russia. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs fears the threat of “illegal adoption of Ukrainian children by citizens of the Russian Federation”. So far, more than 121,000 Ukrainian orphans are said to have been brought to Russia against their will.
Ukraine’s human rights ombudsman Lyudmila Denysova said Russia is already drafting legislation to allow the adoption of Ukrainian children. These must be brought to Russia by force by soldiers. A statement from the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs spoke of “blatant threats of illegal adoption of Ukrainian children by Russian citizens without following all the procedures provided for in Ukrainian law”.
“Agreements” with Donetsk and Luhansk
The government is especially concerned about information that the Russian Ministry of Education is planning “agreements” with the separatist Ukrainian regions of Donetsk and Luhansk that would “allow the transfer of illegally abducted orphans from the territory of Ukraine to Russian families”.
More than 121,000 children kidnapped
According to Serhiy Kyslytsia, Ukraine’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, the “invaders” have already kidnapped more than 121,000 children. Most young people would come from the port city of Mariupol, which is currently heavily disputed. From there, the children would be transferred to Donetsk and Taganrog, a nearby Russian city on the Sea of Azov, which is being held by the separatists, Euronews reports.
Call to UN Human Rights Committee
Information on whether the children put up for adoption have orphan status or are not receiving parental care is not available for Ukraine, explains Lyudmila Denysova.
Denysova also called on the UN Human Rights Committee and the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI) to “intervene to prevent the illegal deportations of Ukrainian citizens from Ukraine and their subsequent illegal adoptions”.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
