Yale’s School of Public Health has released a US State Department-backed report alleging that 314 Ukrainian children were forcibly deported to Russia and subjected to a Kremlin-funded program of “Russification.” Of these children, 166 were placed with Russian families, 148 were listed in adoption databases, and others remain in institutions. The report claims Russian presidential aircraft and military logistics were used to transport children from occupied Ukrainian territories to Russian families or institutions.
This report underpins the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) March 2023 arrest warrants for Russian President Vladimir Putin and Maria Lvova-Belova, Russia’s commissioner for children’s rights. They are accused of war crimes, including the forcible transfer of children — a crime against humanity under international law. Putin’s decrees allegedly facilitated the fast-tracking of Russian citizenship and placements for these children. Lvova-Belova has publicly advocated for Russian families to take in Ukrainian children.
In past press conferences, Lvova-Belova has denied allegations of forced adoptions or re-education, claiming children were placed under guardianship with parental consent. She dismissed claims of mistreatment in Russian facilities but acknowledged efforts to promote “love for Russia” among Ukrainian children.
Moscow continues to dismiss the ICC’s arrest warrants as legally void.