EU Calls Russia’s Deportations of Ukrainian Children ‘Genocidal Strategy’
The European Parliament described Russia’s deportations of Ukrainian children as a “genocidal strategy” in new resolution.
Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Moscow, with the support of the Belarusian regime, have been forcibly transferring Ukrainian civilians from occupied territories to Russian-controlled areas or into Russia itself.
Ukraine says more than 20,000 children have been taken without the consent of family or guardians, calling the abductions a war crime that meets the U.N. treaty definition of genocide.
The abducted Ukrainian children are subjected to an indoctrination process called “russification” which forbids them to speak Ukrainian. Older children are also sent for military training.
The resolution adopted on Thursday in the EU Parliament was passed by 516 votes to three, with 34 abstentions.
Arrest warrants
It calls on Russia to ensure the safe and unconditional return of all deported Ukrainian children. Russian authorities must also allow international organizations such as the International Committee of the Red Cross, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, and UNICEF to access all deported Ukrainian children.
“Any genuine peace agreement must include the repatriation of these children and accountability for forced resettlement and deportation,” the document reads.
The Kremlin rejects the allegations and claims the children were transported from war zones for their own protection.
In March 2023, the International Criminal Court issued warrants for the arrest of President Vladimir Putin and children’s commissioner Maria Lvova-Belova on war crimes charges related to the abduction of Ukrainian children.
Source: Tvp World