Hundreds of Ukrainian Children Illegally Taken to russia Face Complex Return Process

The terrorist country has illegally taken hundreds of Ukrainian children from Crimea, changed their data and resettled them in different regions. Some of them have been living in Russian families for more than 11 years, and their return is complicated both legally and psychologically.

This was reported by Suspilne. Crimea.

The children illegally taken from Crimea, whom Russia "adopted" after the occupation, now live in different regions. The occupiers are constantly changing their personal data and place of residence, which complicates the search.

According toKateryna Rashevska, a lawyer at the Regional Center for Human Rights , some children have been in Russian families for more than 11 years. On adoption websites, you can still find hundreds of profiles of children from Crimea who were taken out after the occupation began.

"Unfortunately, until 2022, such crimes did not receive any proper response from the international community, no sanctions were imposed, and these crimes were not reflected in the reports of the International Criminal Court," the human rights activist noted.

She emphasized that the return of such children is a complex process in which legal, humanitarian and personal aspects intersect. Even if there is a legal representative and the child's consent, over the years he or she could have been turned against Ukraine. For 11 years, these children have been raised in the Russian narrative and it is difficult for her to say whether they will want to return.

In the occupied Crimea, children are not admitted to schools without a stamp of Russian citizenship or a residence permit on their birth certificate. On April 1, schools began to require that the birth certificate contain a stamp of citizenship or a residence permit. The biggest problems arose in Sevastopol: it is not easy to get a stamp, and without it, a child is not enrolled in school.

The occupation authorities are also actively militarizing education in Crimea: 260 cadet classes are already operating in schools, 63 more than last year. In addition, there are 16 Cossack classes, and a total of almost 6,300 children are undergoing military training.

Meanwhile, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe has adopted a resolution that opens up the possibility of compensation for the damage that Russia has caused since 2014. The document emphasizes the importance of taking into account violations of the rights of Crimean residents.

Анна Бальчінос