Russia tries to take Ukrainian children from Kherson, Zaporizhzhia under guise of evacuation

According to Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets, abductions of minors are taking place in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine. The Russian forces are trying to take Ukrainian children from the Kherson region to the Far East and from Enerhodar, Zaporizhzhia region, to Crimea under the guise of evacuation.

“In the temporarily occupied territories, the occupiers continue to conduct so-called preventive medical examinations, the 'results' of which are then used to take Ukrainian children for 'treatment' in the Russian Federation. In fact, such measures are a cover for the abduction of our children,” Lubinets said.

It is reported that as part of the parliamentary control over the observance of human and civil rights and freedoms, in particular of children, letters were sent to the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regional administrations with a request to clarify this information.

Lubinets said that the support of the international community is extremely important, so Ukraine is counting on tougher sanctions against those responsible for the deportation of Ukrainian children in the 11th sanctions package, informal discussions of which have already begun between the European Commission and officials of EU member states.

• Advisor to the Presidential Commissioner for Children's Rights Daria Herasymchuk said that the Russian army mostly uses five scenarios to transfer Ukrainian children to the territory of the Russian Federation.