Russia Obstructs Repatriation of Ukrainian Children to Conceal Crimes, Says Klitschko

Efforts to repatriate Ukrainian children abducted by Russia have become increasingly difficult, according to Volodymyr Klitschko, brother of Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko, speaking on December 18.

Klitschko reported that Russian authorities are actively obstructing the process by concealing information and evading accountability, complicating attempts to locate and bring the children home.

According to him, 553 children have been successfully returned to Ukraine despite these challenges. He emphasized that the process remains fraught with obstacles, requiring significant financial, logistical, and international support.

“Of the hundreds of thousands of children taken, we have managed to bring back only 553. Russia no longer releases children from filtration camps and actively prevents their identification. This is because they fear accountability, given the International Criminal Court’s arrest warrant for Putin over these actions. They are hiding evidence and the children themselves, understanding the legal consequences of these crimes,” Klitschko stated.

The process of repatriation, according to Klitschko, involves various methods, including international intermediaries and cooperation with foreign representatives. Filtration camps, where children remain for up to three months before being sent to remote Russian regions, provide a critical window for identification.

“While the children are in these camps, we work through agents and family connections—mothers, aunts, and grandmothers—to identify and return them. These children, upon return, serve as witnesses to the crimes they endured, recounting the methods of abduction and their experiences in captivity,” Klitschko explained.

Klitschko also highlighted the role of Russian propaganda in manipulating the situation. In some cases, Ukrainian parents handed over their children to occupying forces, believing it to be a measure to ensure their safety amidst frontline fighting. However, Russian authorities often exploit this, relocating the children to distant regions, erasing their identities, and severing ties with their families.

“Over time, these children are told their parents abandoned them, distorting their perception of reality. Many are subjected to ideological conditioning and military training. Tragically, this has led to instances where family members find themselves on opposing sides of the war due to these efforts,” Klitschko remarked.

The Klitschko Foundation, active since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion, continues to provide critical assistance to children affected by the war.

Earlier, Ukrainian Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets reported that Russia has illegally deported over 20,000 Ukrainian children since the full-scale invasion began, with an estimated 1.5 million more at risk in occupied territories.