Ukraine: Russia’s alleged forced child deportations spark ⁤genocide claims

Updated June⁢ 03, ⁣2025

Negotiations​ between Russia and Ukraine⁣ have stalled,​ with teh issue of allegedly stolen children becoming a⁤ major​ sticking point.Ukraine claims Russia has⁤ acknowledged taking hundreds of children, though Russia disputes the characterization of forced ​removal.

Ksenia Koldin, along with her younger brother, Serhii, ⁣says they were taken to Russia against‍ thier will after Russia destroyed their hometown of Vovchansk. Separated by Russian troops, Ksenia was‍ sent ⁣to ⁤a technical school, while Serhii was placed in a “summer camp” before being fostered by a Russian family.

Ksenia was later ‌expelled for resisting‌ “Russian propaganda” and planned an escape, but Serhii initially refused to return, saying he felt unwanted in Ukraine and feared‍ Nazis. Mykola Kuleba,a Ukrainian child advocate with Save Ukraine,says this narrative is part of‌ Russia’s strategy to erase children’s identities and indoctrinate ⁤them.

“After being ⁤brainwashed, they don’t ‍want to⁤ communicate,”‍ Kuleba said. “They (are) really ‍afraid as, through Russian propaganda, they believe that Nazis will kill them if they come back.”

Ukraine estimates that 20,000 ​children have been forcibly deported since February 2022, ‍not including‍ those taken after ‌Russia annexed ⁢Crimea in 2014. Kuleba alleges that some of these children are ​later ‍forced to fight against Ukraine.

The International Criminal Court has issued arrest warrants for​ Russian President Vladimir ⁣Putin and Maria Lvova-belova, Russia’s commissioner for⁢ children’s rights, over the alleged war‍ crime. Kuleba believes Putin is guilty of genocide.

Save Ukraine has rescued⁣ over 600 children from Russia⁣ and ⁤occupied⁢ territories, providing⁣ counseling and reintegration ​services.Kuleba credits his‍ work to American missionaries who introduced him ‍to Christianity. Ksenia sought Kuleba’s help,‍ which eventually led to her brother’s return.

“He’s very happy, ⁣and I’m happy, too, as we (are) together in Ukraine ​at home,” she explained.

Ksenia is now sharing her story to raise​ awareness about the plight of stolen children.

What’s⁤ next

Kuleba’s Save Ukraine continues it’s risky rescue missions and reintegration⁤ efforts,while Ksenia ⁣koldin advocates ‌internationally,hoping to reunite more families separated by the ‍conflict ⁢and raise awareness about the forced child deportations and brainwashing.