“To Save or to Steal”: Russian Narratives About the Deportation of Ukrainian Children

In an increasingly multipolar world, and amid a shifting global order where the rules-based international framework continues to weaken, we are witnessing persistent gaps in the legal enforcement of international norms and a lack of effective mechanisms to uphold international justice. While many nations recognize that the Russian Federation is using the deportation of Ukrainian children as a tool in its broader colonial expansion, the Russian government portrays a different narrative regarding the welfare of children in occupied territories. The official Russian stance consistently frames the relocation of these children as a humanitarian act, with Russian officials claiming that soldiers are “risking their lives to save children from shelling and military operations.” Vladimir Medinsky, aide to the President of Russia and head of the Russian delegation during the “peace talks” with Ukraine in Istanbul, emphasized that the children were not stolen but rather “evacuated to safety.” 

In articles from May of 2024 that appeared in the Russian state-owned news agency TASS, the Russian President is quoted to echo the same sentiment in his conversation with Children’s Rights Commissioner, Maria Lvova-Belova:  

“[Ukrainian] children ended up on Russian territory because we were rescuing them from shelling, from the combat zone.”  

Additionally, Lvova-Belova reassured the President that the Russian side always prioritizes the best interests of the child, in response to his emphasis that the Commission’s work should remain apolitical and focus on reuniting families. When Lvova-Belova pointed out that Ukrainian authorities failed to mention the return of six Russian children, implying that Kyiv is manipulating information and prioritizing military objectives, the President responded: 

“Alright. Let that be, it’s all political games — the main thing is that the children are reunited with their loved ones, that families are reunited, that they are happy.”

Belarus’s Role in the Removal of Ukrainian Children 

Another global leader who expressed frustration over accusations of the forced removal of children is Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko, a close ally of Russia. In July 2023, he called the allegations of the forced deportation of Ukrainian children from occupied territories “barbaric” and said in a conversation with the media, as reported by Lenta.ru: 

“Why are you reproaching me for inviting these poor souls so they can rest and recover?” 

The Belarusian state has been implicated in the forced deportation of Ukrainian children through direct involvement of the Belarusian Red Cross in transferring children from Russian-occupied areas to Belarus. What the Belarusian leader described as an opportunity for children to “rest and recover,” the head of the Belarusian Red Cross, Dzmitry Shautsou, confirmed as a rehabilitation initiative and in an interview with Belsat TV, he stated:  

“When they accused the Republic of Belarus of kidnapping children who come to us for rehabilitation — frankly speaking, the Belarusian Red Cross has been, is, and will continue to be actively involved in this.” 

Following revelation of Dzmitry Shautsou’s involvement – along with his visit to Russian-occupied areas in eastern Ukraine, where he is reported to have worn military-style clothing marked with the letter “Z,” a pro-war symbol associated with numerous war crimes and violations of international law committed by Russian forces (as reported by Belsat TV) – the international community responded with calls for accountability. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) condemned Shautsou’s actions as a breach of the core principle of neutrality, which underpins the humanitarian mission of the Red Cross. After the Belarusian Red Cross refused to suspend Shautsou, the IFRC halted all activities and funding to the organization in December 2023. Ukraine’s Foreign Minister at the time, Dmytro Kuleba, called on the International Criminal Court (ICC) to issue an arrest warrant for Dzmitry Shautsou, emphasizing that the deportation of civilians is prohibited under international law. Similar warrants had already been issued in March 2023 for the President of Russia and the Russian Commissioner for Children’s Rights. 

The Kremlin’s Stance on ICC Warrants 

At the time the arrest warrants were announced, the Russian Federation responded with apparent calm. Maria Zakharova, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, stated:  

“Russia is not a party to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court and bears no obligations under it.” 

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov added:  

“We are taking this calmly. We are documenting everything carefully. We continue our work. The President continues his work as well.” 

Our previous analysis focuses on the gaps in the rules-based international order and examines the failure of international legal frameworks to hold Russian officials accountable. Following the ICC’s announcement of arrest warrants, Russia retaliated by opening criminal cases against Prosecutor Karim Ahmad Khan and ICC judges Tomoko Akane, Rosario Salvatore Aitala, and Sergio Gerardo Ugalde Godínez. The Investigative Committee of Russia stated that heads of state are granted absolute immunity from the jurisdiction of foreign states, a principle established under international law. The alleged offenses by ICC officials were described as involving “preparations for an attack on a representative of a foreign state enjoying international protection, with the intent to complicate international relations.” While the Russian Federation has a well-documented list of noted breaches of international legal norms, it does not hesitate to invoke legal mechanisms when convenient, particularly as a means of pressuring or threatening the international legal community. 

While the issue of Ukrainian children being separated from their families continues to be portrayed in a benevolent light by Russian authorities, it is important that the international community explores counternarratives to these claims. In a rapidly changing world with shifting alliances, uncovering the truth so that justice is served will be challenging. To stay informed on the number of Ukrainian children taken by the Russian Federation, as well as the countermeasures being taken by the Ukrainian government and its allies, see the resources listed below: 

• Children of War: https://childrenofwar.gov.ua/  

Portal created by the Ministry of Reintegration and the National Information Bureau on behalf of the Office of the President of Ukraine. The goal of the platform is to share up-to date, consolidated information about Ukrainian children suffering during Russian aggression in Ukraine. It is a tool for families to report a lost child, a crime committed against a child, as well as to provide any information on the whereabouts of missing children. Additionally, the platform collects testimonies from Ukrainian children who were returned to Ukraine. The resources cover a variety of diver topics, ranging from security during wartime, to how to provide support for returning children.  

• Documentary ABDUCTED CHILDHOOD | DOCUMENTARY ‪@online.ua‬ 

This is a scientific and psychological study of the Ukrainian independent media team online.ua of the situation of forced deportation and abduction of Ukrainian children by the Russian Federation from the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine. The project tells the real stories of children and their families affected by Russia’s war against Ukraine, as well as comments from scientists, psychologists, lawyers and leading experts in the protection of children’s rights. The project also documents evidence of Russian war crimes against Ukrainians. To watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2wykO6PkDAs&t=4s