"I Didn't Want to Go..." Ukrainian Children Taken to Russian-Occupied Areas Without Understanding Why

Russia forcibly relocates Ukrainian children for adoption
Ukraine: "Coercive and violent process... constitutes war crime"

On the 22nd (local time), Ukrainian civilians evacuated from the Russian-occupied territory of Kherson are boarding a ferry (connection ship). [Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hwang Sumi] Foreign media reports have emerged that Russia is forcibly relocating large numbers of Ukrainian children to its territory. Primarily, children who lived in orphanages or group living facilities are being forcibly moved from Ukraine and adopted by Russian families. Even when relatives or guardians request the return of the children, Russia proceeds with these actions, which experts point out constitute war crimes.

On the 22nd (local time), The New York Times (NYT) reported on cases of Ukrainian children forcibly relocated to Russia.

According to the report, recently, a teenage Ukrainian girl named Anya was adopted by a local family near Moscow against her will.

Previously separated from her parents, she had been staying at a tuberculosis care facility in Mariupol but had to leave due to a Russian military attack last spring.

Fortunately, with the help of a volunteer, Anya was able to board an ambulance heading to Zaporizhzhia.

However, the vehicle suddenly changed its route to a Russian military checkpoint. Ultimately, Anya was sent not to Zaporizhzhia but to a hospital in Donetsk, which is occupied by Russia. She was forcibly relocated to Russia despite her objections.

She told the NYT, "I didn’t want to go to (Donetsk), but no one asked me." She added, "I don’t want to become a Russian citizen. My friends and family are not here."

Similarly, there was a child who was forcibly transferred from a Ukrainian boarding school to a hospital in Donetsk. Ukrainian teenager Ivan Matkovsky said, "I witnessed other children being forced onto buses bound for Russia," adding, "The children protested, but no one listened to them. They had no choice."

The NYT reported that the process of relocating children from Ukraine to Russia was a painful procedure based on coercion and violence.

On the 22nd (local time), Ukrainian citizens are waiting for a bus heading to the Crimean Peninsula after leaving Kherson, a Russian-occupied area. [Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

Evidence of Russia forcibly relocating Ukrainian children to its territory has previously been reported at the United Nations. According to AFP, at the UN Security Council meeting held on the 7th of last month, Ilze Brands Kehris, the UN Human Rights Officer, stated, "There are credible allegations that Russia has forcibly moved Ukrainian children without their parents to Russian-occupied territories or Russian territory."

She added, "There are concerns that Russian authorities, through simplified procedures, are granting citizenship to these children and then sending them for adoption to Russian families."

In this context, some have pointed out that Russia’s actions not only constitute war crimes but also amount to genocide, which means ethnic cleansing.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated in a video speech last June, "So far, more than 200,000 Ukrainian children have been forcibly deported," revealing that Russia is forcibly relocating both adults and children.

He particularly noted, "Russia is dispersing those forcibly relocated across Russian territory, including remote areas," adding, "The purpose of this policy is not only to steal our people but also to make those forcibly deported forget Ukraine and prevent their return." He further described this as "one of the most heinous war crimes."

On the other hand, Russia has denied these allegations. Vasily Nebenzya, Russia’s ambassador to the UN, claimed, "Ukrainians are fleeing to Russia to protect themselves from a criminal regime," and insisted, "Forced relocation is baseless."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.