cross-posted from: mander.xyz/post/41905956

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Ukraine has identified about 400 locations in Russia where Russians have transported kidnapped Ukrainian children.

This was reported by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in a telegram.

It is estimated that about 19 500 abducted Ukrainian children are currently in the Russian Federation. More than 1 600 children have been returned home.

The deportation of Ukrainian children is one of Russiaʼs war crimes, for which the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant for Putin and the Russian Childrenʼs Ombudsman Maria Lvova-Belova.

Ukraine also has evidence that Belarus is participating in the deportation of Ukrainian children.

In September, researchers found out more than 200 Russian institutions for the “re-education” of Ukrainian children — where they assemble drones and undergo airborne training. In the detention centers, some of the children were involved in the Russian program of forced upbringing and adoption, after which they were transferred to Russian families and granted Russian citizenship.

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Several countries, including the UK, Canada, Norway, Finland, Austria, Latvia, Estonia, Switzerland and Sweden are involved in the scheme, which was launched by Andriy Yermak, the Ukrainian president’s chief of staff, reports The Times.

Official figures suggest that 19,546 children have been taken from their homes against their will by Russia since the conflict began. However, earlier this year, a team of experts from Yale University estimated that about 35,000 Ukrainian children listed as missing may be in Russia, or Russian-occupied territories. Some were taken from orphanages, others from their homes, schools, or shelters.