The embassies of multiple countries in Kyiv called on Russia on Thursday to return Ukrainian children back to the country, on the occasion of Children’s Day, celebrated every year on June 1 in Ukraine and some other countries.
“Today, on International Day for the Protection of Children in Ukraine and across the region, we, the Embassies associated with this statement, call on the Russian Federation to return Ukraine’s children to Ukraine,” a joint statement read.
The statement also said the countries associated are “appalled by Russia’s large-scale forced transfer and deportation of children to Russia or Russian-controlled territory within Ukraine,” recalling the arrest warrants issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC).
On March 17, the ICC issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin and Presidential Commissioner for Children’s Rights Maria Lvova-Belova on charges of “illegal deportation” of Ukrainian children.
“The Ukrainian government has identified over 19,000 children unlawfully deported or otherwise separated from their parents or guardians. This number continues to grow with recent transfers from the Zaporizhzhia region,” the statement further said.
It also said none of the cases examined by the UN with regard to the issue were “justified by safety or medical reasons, nor did they satisfy the requirements set forth by international humanitarian law,” despite Russia’s use of the definition “evacuations.”
“The obstacles Russia puts in place to prevent Ukrainian children from reuniting with their families and caregivers undermine Russia’s narrative. … Unlawfully deported children face abusive indoctrination processes designed to systematically undermine and erase their Ukrainian identity,” it claimed.
It further called on Russia to end the war in Ukraine and its actions regarding Ukrainian children, and also “to return Ukraine’s children where they belong: Ukraine.”
“The international community stands with Ukraine in protecting its future generations. We will hold the Russian Federation to account for its illegal and barbaric actions in Ukraine,” the statement concluded.
The statement was signed by the embassies of the UK, Australia, Austria, the Netherlands, Canada, Denmark, Estonia, Greece, Latvia, Switzerland, the Czech Republic, Poland, Slovenia, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, New Zealand, Norway, Romania, Spain, Sweden, as well as the delegation of the EU to Ukraine.
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