The ongoing conflict in Ukraine has led to the concerning displacement and forced relocation of Ukrainian children. Dmytro Lubinets, the Commissioner for Human Rights, reported that Ukraine has returned 1,002 children from Russia and occupied territories, largely thanks to international help, particularly from Qatar. He stated that Russia has forcibly relocated 19,546 children, with beliefs that the true figure may be much higher, potentially affecting 1.5 million children in occupied areas.

Lubinets expressed frustration over Russia’s slow return process and called for robust international action, including forming a dedicated body for the return of displaced children and a coalition for information gathering and rehabilitation programs. Official reports suggest that over 20,000 children have been displaced since the conflict began, with estimates hinting at numbers ranging from 150,000 to several hundred thousand. This crisis has sparked international scrutiny, resulting in arrest warrants from the International Criminal Court for Russian leaders, including Vladimir Putin, on war crime charges related to the deportation of Ukrainian children.

Read more at Radio Freedom