Russia Launches Online Catalogue for Coerced Adoption of Ukrainian Children

Russia has initiated a controversial online platform that categorizes Ukrainian children for what it describes as “adoption.” This move follows the forced deportation of numerous minors from Ukraine amid the ongoing conflict. The platform, created by Russian authorities in the occupied Luhansk region, allows users to filter children based on age, gender, and physical characteristics, including eye and hair color.

The database currently features 294 children, with descriptors that highlight their perceived character traits, labeling some as “obedient” or “calm.” The Russian-installed education department in Luhansk claims these children are “orphans and children left without parental care.” Yet, many were born in Ukrainian territories prior to their occupation and hold Ukrainian citizenship.

According to Mykola Kuleba, CEO of the organization Save Ukraine, several of these children have lost parents due to violence from occupation authorities. Others have been issued Russian identification documents to facilitate their abduction. Kuleba emphasizes that this tactic is not new, stating that Ukrainian children have been appearing in Russian adoption databases since 2014. However, he notes that the practice has intensified and become more systematic since 2022.

Kuleba pointed out that early attempts by Russian authorities to obscure their actions involved shutting down registers and removing references to these adoptions. “Now, the pretence is gone,” he stated. “Russian orphans are displayed like products in an online marketplace.”

The adoption process has been described by Kuleba as “state-sponsored child trafficking.” He highlighted that Russian authorities have revised laws to enable the alteration of children’s names and birthdates. The system has been streamlined, allowing for the online “ordering” of a Ukrainian child, who can then be stripped of their identity and issued a Russian passport.

Kuleba raised alarms about the dangers that these children face, which include exposure to sexual exploitation, human trafficking, illegal adoptions, and organ harvesting. According to recent reports, Ukraine has verified the forced deportation of over 19,500 children. While over 1,350 have been returned, this process often requires mediation by third-party states, including Qatar and South Africa. Some estimates, such as those from Yale’s Humanitarian Research Lab, suggest the total number of deported Ukrainian children could be as high as 35,000. In contrast, Moscow has claimed the number may reach 700,000.

The Institute for the Study of War has identified the removal of Ukrainian children as a key priority for Russian President Vladimir Putin. Documents from the Kremlin, dated February 18, 2022, reveal intentions to relocate children from orphanages in the occupied Luhansk and Donetsk regions to Russia under the guise of “humanitarian evacuations.”

During recent negotiations between Ukraine and Russia, the Ukrainian delegation presented a list of children who have been forcibly deported. Rustem Umerov, head of the Ukrainian delegation, emphasized that the return of these children is a crucial aspect of any potential ceasefire or peace agreement. The list includes the names of 339 abducted Ukrainian children. In response, the Russian delegation chief accused Ukraine of staging a “show” regarding the issue of lost children, suggesting that Kyiv is attempting to manipulate emotions.

Sources familiar with the negotiations indicated that Moscow is well aware of the whereabouts of every child listed. As the situation continues to unfold, the plight of these children remains a pressing humanitarian concern, urging international attention and action.