The article discusses the issue of Russia’s forced adoption and militarization of Ukrainian children, particularly those who have been abducted from Ukraine since February 2022. The article highlights several key points:
1. **Forced adoption**: Russia has abducted tens of thousands of Ukrainian children, with some estimates suggesting as many as 700,000 have been taken to Russia.
2. **Illegally deporting children**: Despite international pressure, Russia continues to illegally deport Ukrainian children, despite the International Criminal Court (ICC) issuing arrest warrants for Putin and Lvova-Belova.
3. **Concealing abductions**: Russia has halted public reporting on the number of deported Ukrainian children, making it difficult to measure the true extent of the issue.
4. **Reeducation programs**: Abducted children are subjected to military-style reeducation programs aimed at erasing their Ukrainian identity and preparing them for future service in the Russian military.
5. **Militarization efforts**: Russia’s militarization efforts extend to both abducted children and those living in occupied areas, with an estimated 1.6 million kids affected.
The article also highlights several specific cases, including:
* A study by the Yale School of Public Health found that Russia has implemented a “systematic, intentional, and widespread” program of forced adoption and Russification of deported Ukrainian children.
* The case of Marharyta Prokopenko, a 10-month-old Ukrainian girl who was forcibly taken from an orphanage in occupied Kherson and adopted by Russian lawmaker Sergei Mironov. Her place of birth was changed to Russia, and she was given Russian citizenship.
The article concludes that if these children are not brought back soon, they risk becoming part of Russia’s war machine in future conflicts against Ukraine and the West. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba warns that through militarizing and brainwashing children, Russia could easily achieve an army of three million within five years.
Overall, the article emphasizes the urgent need for international action to address this humanitarian crisis and ensure the safe return of abducted Ukrainian children to their families and homes.
