Russia’s Abduction of Over 20,000 Ukrainian Children Condemned as War Crime and Genocide

April 18, 2025 – Since the onset of its full-scale invasion in 2022, Russia has forcibly taken at least 20,000 Ukrainian children from occupied territories, subjecting them to illegal deportation, forced adoption, and systematic indoctrination aimed at erasing their Ukrainian identity.

These actions have been widely condemned by international bodies as violations of international law and acts of genocide. The International Criminal Court has issued arrest warrants for Russian President Vladimir Putin and Children’s Rights Commissioner Maria Lvova-Belova for their alleged involvement in these crimes.

The Ukrainian government has documented nearly 20,000 cases of children taken to Russia or Russian-controlled areas for forced assimilation.  Only a fraction of these children have been returned to Ukraine, leaving thousands separated from their families and homeland.

In response to this humanitarian crisis, UkrainianChildren.org is and  Ukrainian Women’s League of America https://unwla.org/ are leading efforts to raise awareness, and advocate for the safe return of abducted children. The organization calls upon the international community to take decisive action to end these violations and support initiatives aimed at reuniting families.

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