>> Reposted from Labour Hub
In the shadow of war, a devastating humanitarian crisis has been unfolding in Ukraine—one that targets the nation’s most vulnerable.  Since Russia’s invasion, Ukrainian children have been at the centre of a calculated genocidal strategy aimed at destroying Ukraine’s future as a nation.

The forced abduction and displacement of Ukrainian children calls for urgent global solidarity to identify, locate, and save Ukraine’s stolen children from Russian captivity.

The Scale of the Crisis

The numbers tell a chilling story. Since the war began in 2014 and escalated with Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, an estimated 1.6 million Ukrainian children have been affected. This staggering figure represents roughly 20% of the country’s child population. These children have had their lives stolen—taken from their homes and families, stripped of their identities, and subjected to unimaginable trauma.

In the early months of the full-scale invasion, Ukrainian authorities documented 19,546 cases of children being forcibly abducted. However, the true scale of the crisis may be far greater. Russia’s strict information blackout in occupied territories has made it nearly impossible to verify the exact number of children who have been forcibly transferred or their current conditions.

Russian officials have provided troubling insights into the scope of the abductions. According to statements, over 700,000 Ukrainian children have been relocated to Russia, far exceeding earlier estimates. Many of these children now face a grim reality: indoctrination, abuse, and even forced military training.

Stripped of Identity and Citizenship

Many of these children have lost their parents to the war, leaving them vulnerable and without support. Denied access to legal recourse under Ukrainian or international law, they are trapped in dire circumstances. Their citizenship, identity, and familial ties are systematically erased, leaving them isolated and defenceless.

The Methods of Exploitation

The crimes committed against these children are deliberate and multifaceted, designed to strip them of their Ukrainian heritage and assimilate them into Russian society. These atrocities manifest in several ways:

• Indoctrination and Ethnic Cleansing: The Russian regime has overhauled the educational system in occupied territories to re-educate Ukrainian children through fear and pressure. By rewriting history, replacing Ukrainian books with Russian materials and denying Ukraine’s existence, they aim to erase the children’s national identity. This systematic cultural destruction is a cornerstone of their strategy.
• Militarization: Ukrainian boys as young as 12 are forcibly sent to Russian military academies. Even within schools in occupied territories, specialised courses indoctrinate them into the Russian military system. Against their will, these children are trained to become future soldiers, prepared to fight against their own homeland.
• Forced Adoption: Many children are placed in Russian orphanages or forcibly adopted by Russian families. This severance from their Ukrainian roots ensures that their connection to their heritage is permanently broken.
• Human Trafficking and Exploitation: When children’s names and birthdates are altered, tracing them becomes nearly impossible. This makes them vulnerable to trafficking within Russia, where evidence points to cases of sexual exploitation, abuse, and forced labour.

A Clear Violation of International Law

Russia’s actions are not only morally reprehensible but also blatant breaches of international humanitarian law. The Geneva Conventions explicitly prohibit the forced transfer or deportation of civilians from occupied territories. Specific articles address the rights of children, emphasising the need for proper care, education and family reunification—all of which are being systematically denied.

The Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC) further classifies such acts as crimes against humanity and war crimes. Forced deportation, particularly when carried out as part of a systematic attack against a civilian population, meets the criteria for these grave offenses. By targeting children—the very future of Ukraine—Russia’s campaign exhibits genocidal intent, aimed at erasing a nation’s cultural identity and undermining its sovereignty.

The Cruel Strategy Behind the Abductions

The abduction and forced assimilation of Ukrainian children are part of a deliberate and sinister strategy. Russia’s goal is to erase Ukrainian culture by severing children’s connections to their heritage, language, and families. This is achieved through indoctrination, militarization and even forced adoption.

The Human Cost

Behind these staggering numbers are individual stories of heartbreak and resilience. Many of these children have lost their parents to the war, leaving them with no legal recourse or means of escape. They face physical and emotional abuse, and some are at risk of being trafficked or exploited.

The psychological toll is immeasurable. Children who are indoctrinated into Russian society face an identity crisis that could take years—or even generations—to heal. They are not only deprived of their families and culture but also denied the sense of security and belonging that every child deserves.

Why This Must Be Stopped

Russia’s abduction of Ukrainian children is not just a humanitarian crisis—it is a strategy with far-reaching implications. By targeting the next generation of Ukrainians, Russia seeks to weaken the country’s resistance and undermine its future as a sovereign nation.

The demographic motivations behind this campaign cannot be ignored. Russia’s declining birth rate and ageing population have created a desperate need for young people. By forcibly relocating Ukrainian children, Russia is attempting to address its own demographic crisis at the expense of Ukraine’s future.

This strategy is eerily reminiscent of colonial practices, where children were taken from their native cultures and assimilated into dominant societies. History has shown us the devastating long-term impact of such actions on both individuals and communities.

Mobilise in Solidarity

Decisive action is needed to bring Ukraine’s stolen children home and ensure their safety and well-being.

Reuniting Ukraine’s stolen children with their families is more than a humanitarian mission—it is a fight for justice, cultural preservation, and the future of a Ukraine as nation.

Ukraine’s children cannot wait. The time to act is now.

On International Children’s Day, Sunday 1 June, a March for the Children of Ukraine has been called in London at 1pm from Marble Arch to demand freedom for the children abducted by Russia and freedom for Ukraine from Occupation.   

Called by Ukraine Solidarity Campaign, the Campaign for Ukraine, Vsesvit and other Ukrainian organisations jointly with national trade unions GMB, ASLEF, NUM and PCS – it is a call to action to the labour movement and wider civil society to take a clear stand for justice for the child victims of Russian imperialism and fascism.

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