Charges have been filed against those responsible for the deportation of 35 Ukrainian children to Russia

Ukrainian law enforcement officials have charged the organizers of the illegal removal of 35 children from the Donetsk region to Russia on the eve of the full-scale invasion.

The suspects include a Russian citizen—the so-called “Minister of Education and Science of the DPR,” the “Head of the Donetsk DPR Administration,” and the director of the “Teremok” orphanage.

According to the investigation, the deportation of the children was planned in advance with the assistance of Russia’s top political leadership. The facility’s management was also involved in this process.

Formally, the “evacuation” was announced on February 18, 2022, but the request had been recorded as early as February 16—at which time an order was issued to transport the children to the Rostov region.

On the same day, 35 children from the orphanage were taken to Russia. The director organized their departure and accompanied them during the transfer.

Currently, the children have not been returned to Ukraine, and 12 of them have been placed with families of Russian citizens.

The suspects’ actions have been classified as a violation of the laws and customs of war, committed as a result of prior conspiracy.

The pre-trial investigation is being conducted by the SBU. Sanctions have already been imposed on one of the suspects.

An independent UN commission has recognized the deportation of children from this facility as a war crime.

Questionnaires for children from the Kherson orphanage who were taken away during the occupation were found on a Russian adoption website. The documents contain no mention of Ukraine. The Ombudsman is calling on the international community to help return the children. 

Russian energy companies may have been involved in financing the camps where the abducted Ukrainian children were taken.