Active case
Child abductions in the Russo-Ukrainian war
During the Russo-Ukrainian war, Russia has forcibly transferred tens of thousands of Ukrainian children to areas under its control, assigning many Russian citizenship, facilitating their adoption into Russian families, and creating obstacles to their reunification with their parents and homeland. Ukrainian authorities have verified the identities of over 19,000 abducted children as part of an online platform called "Children of War," while Russian authorities have claimed that more than 700,000 Ukrainian children had been transferred by mid-2023; Ukraine's ombudsman on children's rights has said the true number could be in the hundreds of thousands.
Deportations began in 2014, with the first large-scale program initiated by Russian charity figure Elizaveta Glinka. Following the 2022 invasion, reports of forced deportations emerged during the siege of Mariupol. Children have been abducted after separation from parents in active war zones, after parents were detained in Russian "filtration" camps or killed, from Ukrainian state institutions such as orphanages and boarding schools, and through so-called "summer camps" in Russia and Belarus, some located as far as Magadan Oblast. Some children detained in these camps were not returned as promised, with return sometimes conditioned on parents traveling to collect them in person — a journey complicated by travel restrictions, cost, and conscription rules barring most men from leaving Ukraine.
On 30 May 2022, Vladimir Putin signed a decree streamlining adoption of Ukrainian children and granting them Russian citizenship, a move Ukrainian authorities have said amounts to legalizing abduction. Russian officials, including children's rights commissioner Maria Lvova-Belova, have described transforming children's Ukrainian identity into "love for Russia." Witness testimony compiled by the UN Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine and by returned children has described poor living conditions, harsh punishment, verbal abuse, and pressure to sing the Russian anthem in the camps; Ukrainian officials have also alleged instances of sexual exploitation.
On 17 March 2023, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Putin and Lvova-Belova alleging criminal responsibility for the unlawful deportation and transfer of children from occupied Ukraine to Russia, marking the first ICC warrant against the leader of a permanent UN Security Council member state. The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights concluded in March 2023 that the transfers violated international humanitarian law and amounted to a war crime, and legal scholars and organizations including the Raoul Wallenberg Centre for Human Rights and the New Lines Institute have argued the transfers meet elements of genocide under the 1948 Genocide Convention. In April 2023, the Council of Europe passed a resolution deeming the transfers an act of genocide.
Belarusian state-affiliated organizations have also participated in transfers, with at least 2,100 children reported held in Belarusian camps as of August 2023; the EU sanctioned Belarus Red Cross head Dzmitry Shautsou in February 2024 over his role. Diplomatic efforts toward reunification have included the Holy See's mediation through Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, and by November 2025 roughly 1,600 children had reportedly been returned. Russia has maintained it "rescued" children from combat zones and denies wrongdoing.
Key facts
- Victims
- On file
- Date
- 2014
- Location
- Ukraine (multiple regions, primarily southern and eastern occupied territories)
- Case status
- ongoing
Case timeline
2014
Russia begins transferring children from Ukrainian territories; first large-scale program initiated by Russian charity figure Elizaveta Glinka.
2022-02
Russia "evacuates" 500 supposed orphans from Donetsk Oblast to Russian territory.
2022-03
First reports emerge of forced deportations to Russia during the siege of Mariupol; Maria Lvova-Belova describes transformation of transferred children's identity.
2022-03-22
Ukraine and U.S. authorities claim more than 2,300 children kidnapped from Donetsk and Luhansk Oblasts.
2022-04-11
Ukrainian and UN officials state more than 120,000 children had been deported to Russia.
2022-05-26
Reports indicate more than 238,000 Ukrainian children deported to Russian territory.
2022-05-30
Vladimir Putin signs decree streamlining adoption of Ukrainian orphans and granting them Russian citizenship.
2022-06
Sky News releases CCTV footage of Russian FSB officials searching a Kherson orphanage for children; Mikhail Mizintsev claims 307,423 deported children among 1,936,911 deported Ukrainians.
2022-06-15
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet announces investigation into forced child deportations.
2022-09-07
UN official reports credible accusations of Russian forced adoption program; US ambassador cites over 1,800 children transferred in July alone.
2022-11-10
Amnesty International publishes report on child abduction during "filtration" procedures.
2022-12
Eastern Human Rights Group and Institute for Strategic Research and Security report concludes Donbas deportations were pre-planned by Russia.
2023-03-15
OHCHR releases report declaring child transfers illegal and a war crime.
2023-03-17
ICC issues arrest warrants for Vladimir Putin and Maria Lvova-Belova over unlawful deportation and transfer of children.
2023-04
Council of Europe passes resolution (87-1-1) deeming forced transfers an act of genocide; Pope Francis meets Ukrainian PM and pledges assistance.
2023-05-31
Zelenskiy reports 371 deported children returned by Russia; more than 19,000 total deported.
2023-06-17
Putin rejects African peace delegation's request to return children.
2023-07
Belarus Red Cross head Dzmitry Shautsou admits to child transfers to Belarus in state TV interview.
2023-08
Reuters reports neo-Nazi rhetoric associated with an aide to Russia's children's rights commissioner office; National Anti-Crisis Management Group reports at least 2,100 Ukrainian children transferred to Belarus.
2024-02
International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children launches with 37 partner nations, co-chaired by Ukraine and Canada; EU sanctions Shautsou and others over Belarus transfers.
2024-02
Investigation reports Lvova-Belova scheduled to be paid roughly €420,000 from Russian federal budget for child removals.
2024-03-19
US House of Representatives passes H.Res 149 condemning child abductions by vote of 390 to 9.
2025-06
At Istanbul talks, Ukraine hands over list of 339 verified abducted children; Russian delegation head Vladimir Medinsky disputes the broader 20,000 figure.
2025-07-23
Medinsky states the list of 339 children is under review.
2025-08
Russian occupation authorities reportedly create online catalogue allowing selection of Ukrainian children by traits.
2025-10
US First Lady Melania Trump announces assistance in reunification of eight displaced children.
2025-11
Approximately 1,600 Ukrainian children reported returned in part through Vatican-mediated efforts; Pope Leo XIV receives delegation of returned children.
2026-03
UN inquiry finds Russian forces guilty of war crimes and crimes against humanity involving forcible transfer, deportation, and enforced disappearance of children.
Best coverage
No approved coverage links are attached yet.
People
Maria Lvova-Belova
CHARGEDRussian Children's Rights Commissioner; ICC arrest warrant issued 17 March 2023 for alleged involvement in unlawful deportation and transfer of Ukrainian children.
Vladimir Putin
CHARGEDPresident of Russia; ICC arrest warrant issued 17 March 2023 alleging criminal responsibility for unlawful deportation and transfer of Ukrainian children from occupied areas to Russia.
Roles reflect public records and court outcomes at the time of writing — supporting citations are on file under Sources.
Places
Common questions
- What happened to the victim?
- Since 2014, and especially after Russia's 2022 full-scale invasion, Russian and Belarusian state authorities have forcibly transferred, deported, and in many cases adopted or re-educated thousands of Ukrainian children, prompting ICC arrest warrants for Vladimir Putin and Maria Lvova-Belova and international allegations of war crimes and genocide.
- Where did the crime happen?
- Ukraine (multiple regions, primarily southern and eastern occupied territories).
- What is the current status of the case?
- Status: ongoing.
Related cases
View all cases
Sources
- ENCYCLOPEDICChild abductions in the Russo-Ukrainian warWikipedia · 2026-07-07
- PRESSContemporaneous coverage — The GuardianThe Guardian · 2026-07-07
- PRESSContemporaneous coverage — The New York TimesThe New York Times · 2026-07-07
Record history
- First published
- JUL 10, 2026