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Russia Has Killed 744 Ukrainian Children and Left Over 2,300 Missing in Full-Scale War
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Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine has killed 744 children, while another 2,363 remain missing, Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights Dmytro Lubinets reported on September 25.
Lubinets presented the figures during an interactive dialogue with the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine at the 63rd regular session of the UN Human Rights Council.
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“744 children have been killed as a result of the full-scale invasion, while another 2,363 children are considered missing. In the temporarily occupied territories, Ukrainian children are being prepared to fight against Ukraine,” he said.
According to the ombudsman, another 2,904 children have sustained injuries of varying severity since the start of the full-scale invasion. Ukrainian authorities have also documented 23 cases of conflict-related sexual violence against children.
Lubinets said approximately 1.6 million Ukrainian children could currently be living in territories temporarily occupied by Russia, where he said they face forced Russification, displacement, and militarization.
“They are issued Russian documents, placed with Russian families, subjected to propaganda, and deprived of their Ukrainian identity. They are forcibly displaced. Instead of ensuring their well-being, their right to a peaceful life and prosperity, Russia is forcibly militarizing childhood. While still minors, they are forced to undergo military training, and thousands of young Ukrainians are conscripted into the Russian army,” Lubinets said.
The ombudsman said Russian authorities were exploiting children’s particular vulnerability to influence and exposing them to military preparation.
“The greatest cynicism lies in the fact that children are particularly vulnerable and defenseless, their psyche is much more susceptible to influence, and Russia is actively exploiting this vulnerability. That is why we must make every possible effort every day to stop this lawlessness,” he said.
Lubinets called on the international community to join the International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children and assist in locating Ukrainian children and ensuring their safe return to Ukraine.
His appeal comes as international efforts to locate, return, and reintegrate Ukrainian children receive additional financial support. On September 24, the US State Department announced $27 million for such initiatives, according to Bring Kids Back.
Of that amount, $12 million has already been approved for programs supporting the reintegration of children returned from Russia and temporarily occupied Ukrainian territories. An additional $15 million has been submitted for consideration to support efforts to locate, return, and reintegrate Ukrainian children.
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