Russian aggression kills 39 children in Kherson region

The Kherson region honored the memory of children whose lives were taken by Russian aggression. Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion in the region, 39 boys and girls have been killed and 267 more children have been injured.

This was announced by the head of the Kherson Regional Military Administration Oleksandr Prokudin on the Day of Remembrance of Children killed as a result of Russia's armed aggression against Ukraine.

According to the head of the Regional Military Administration, he took part in a commemorative event at the monument dedicated to the dead children of Kherson region together with clergy, volunteers and people working for the future of children.

"Since the beginning of the full-scale war in Kherson region, Russians have cut short the lives of 39 boys and girls. Children who had to grow up, dream, live. Another 267 children were wounded," said Prokudin.

The monument is located near a playground that was previously damaged by Russian shelling. It was there that the participants prayed for the souls of the innocent children.

Also on this day, memorial bells will be ringing all over Ukraine - symbolic "voices of children" whose lives were taken by the war. According to Prokudin, this ringing reminds us of every child who will never return to their families.

The head of the Kherson Regional Military Administration emphasized that Russia should be held accountable for every lost childhood and every life that was cut short.

"None of us will ever forgive the enemy for the loss of these children. May the memory of every life that did not have time to begin be blessed," he said.

Recently, the children from the Kherson Children's Home, who were illegally taken by the Russian military in 2022, were found on the Russian state portal for adoption.

As Intent previously wrote, Yale University has published a study on the involvement of Russian state-owned companies Gazprom and Rosneft in the deportation and "re-education" of Ukrainian children.

As a reminder, the UN International Commission of Inquiry concluded that the removal of Ukrainian children from the temporarily occupied territories by Russia is a crime against humanity. In addition, the commission considers the delay in their return to Ukraine a war crime.

Meanwhile, in Russia, State Duma deputy Yana Lantratova, who is accused in Ukraine of illegally taking children from occupied Kherson, was appointed as the new human rights commissioner.

Андрій Колісніченко