Khrystyna Shkudor, advocate manager of 'Where Are Our People?' campaign, discusses Russia's abduction of almost 20,000 Ukrainian children. They talk about the tactics used, brainwashing efforts, and trauma faced by the children. The podcast highlights the urgency of winning the war for the children's return and the challenges faced by families in occupied territories.
Russia's systematic policy involves kidnapping almost 20,000 Ukrainian children, reflecting a broader historical context of Russian actions
Conflicting figures exist about the number of Ukrainian children taken, highlighting challenges in verifying accurate numbers and the extent of the crisis
Russia employs various models to abduct Ukrainian children and adults, emphasizing the need for international awareness and advocacy to stop deportation policies
Deep dives
The Uncovering of Russia's Deportation Policy
Russia's systematic policy involves kidnapping almost 20,000 Ukrainian children according to Kiev's official numbers. The official data suggests Russia relocated over half a million Ukrainian children with no intention to return them. This highlights a severe policy aimed at depriving Ukraine of its future generation, reflecting a broader historical context of Russian actions.
The Disputed Numbers of Kidnapped Children
Conflicting figures exist about the number of Ukrainian children taken, with Russia claiming to have relocated 700,000 children. However, Ukrainian government figures estimate around 20,000 kidnapped children, with only a fraction, around 386, returned. This disparity raises concerns about the extent of the crisis and the challenges in verifying accurate numbers.
Methods of Kidnapping and Manipulating Children
Russia employs various models to abduct Ukrainian children, including robbing orphanages, using summer camps as facades for abduction, and deploying filtration camps to separate children from parents deceptively. The manipulation extends to brainwashing children by instilling Russian identity, teaching them only Russian language, and preparing them for potential military roles.
Deportation of Adults and Consequences
Beyond children, adults face similar deportation tactics, including being coerced into accepting Russian passports, being offered fake relocation opportunities, or becoming civilian hostages. Stories of adults coerced into slavery and exploitation emphasize the wider scope of Russia's deportation strategy, highlighting the challenges faced by adults and the need for international awareness and advocacy.
Global Advocacy and Action Call
Urgent calls for advocacy and international action emphasize the importance of raising awareness about the plight of Ukrainian children and adults facing deportation. Critically, the international community's involvement, driven by public support and pressure on governments, is vital to halt Russia's destructive deportation policies. Advocacy efforts are urged to address the systemic crisis and stand in solidarity with Ukraine's struggle against these human rights abuses.
Almost 20,000 Ukrainian children have been kidnapped by Russia during its invasion of Ukraine, according to Kyiv’s official data. Russia’s figures are much bigger: it says it has relocated more than half a million of Ukrainian children - and is not going to give them back. This is a horrible, systematic policy of depriving the Ukrainian nation of its future.
The Explaining Ukraine podcast invites Khrystyna Shkudor, advocacy manager of the campaign “Where Are Our People?” (https://deportation.org.ua/). The campaign is aimed at uncovering Russia's policy of forcible deportations of Ukrainians. It is run by PR Army, a Ukrainian non-profit communication initiative.
Host: Volodymyr Yermolenko, Ukrainian philosopher, chief editor of UkraineWorld, and president of PEN Ukraine
UkraineWorld (ukraineworld.org) is brought to you by Internews Ukraine, one of the largest Ukrainian media NGOs.
Listen on various platforms: https://li.sten.to/explaining-ukraine
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You can also support our volunteer trips to the frontlines at PayPal: ukraine.resisting@gmail.com.
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