Russia Forcibly Deported 3,000 Children From Kherson in Summer 2024 Alone, Ombudsman Says

In the summer of 2024, over 3,000 children were forcibly deported from the temporarily occupied areas of the Kherson region by Russian authorities, according to Ukraine’s Ombudsman for Human Rights, Dmytro Lubinets. These children were reportedly sent under the guise of “vacation” programs.

Lubinets highlighted in a Telegram post that the children were taken to various camps in remote regions of Russia, where they were exposed to a range of activities described as “re-education.”

The Russian authorities organized events such as defense and sports training in Vologda and “University Sessions” in Tula. These programs included excursions, workshops, sports competitions, and other activities that promote forced assimilation and militarization.

Lubinets further emphasized that these actions are part of a broader Russian strategy aimed at erasing the national identity of Ukrainian children by imposing Russian culture, history, and language on them. He expressed concern that this could lead to these children being manipulated into participating in future military actions against their home country.

In response to the forcible deportations, the “Bring Kids Back UA” initiative has been launched to advocate for the return of Ukrainian children taken to Russia. This campaign aims to raise awareness of the violations of children’s rights and the forced relocation under the pretext of “vacation” or “rehabilitation.” Its goal is to mobilize international support for the safe return of these children to Ukraine.

Earlier, an 18-year-old Ukrainian orphan, Oleksandr Yakushchenko, who had been forcibly relocated from the Kherson region to Russia, tragically took his own life while living with a foster family in Krasnodar region.

His body was discovered by workers in the morning, and it was reported that he had struggled with feelings of neglect and isolation. Prior to his death, Yakushchenko sent a voice message to friends expressing his despair over his situation. His foster family, who had reportedly taken away his passport, showed little concern for his well-being, and some close to him believe his desire to return to Ukraine may have contributed to his tragic decision.

Protect Ukraine’s future generations

Donate towards school reconstruction, bomb shelters and power generators to ensure a safer educational environment for Ukrainian children

DONATE