Thousands of Ukrainian Children Reportedly Held in Russia, Some Listed for ’Adoption’ Online
Kyiv, Ukraine – A growing international outcry is focused on the alleged systematic abduction of Ukrainian children by Russia, with reports surfacing of some being offered for adoption to Russian families and, disturbingly, listed in an online “marketplace.” Ukrainian officials estimate over 30,000 children have been forcibly removed from occupied territories since the start of the full-scale invasion.
The issue gained renewed attention after First Lady Jill Biden publicly addressed the situation,prompting a response from both Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy and former U.S. President Donald Trump. Zelenskyy thanked Biden on X (formerly Twitter) for acknowledging “one of the most painful and tough issues of this war.” Trump stated that his wife “loves children, and she hates to see something like this happening.”
Mykola Kuleba, head of the Ukrainian organization Save Ukraine, which has already rescued over 800 children, alleges the situation has escalated to a shocking degree. “We have discovered an online catalog, literally a marketplace like Amazon for human beings where Ukrainian orphans stolen from occupied territories are listed like products,” Kuleba told CBN News. “You can filter by eye color, hair color, weight, even obedience.This is not the dark web. This is out in the open. This is the site for child traffickers and pedophiles, run under the authority of Vladimir Putin.”
Save ukraine has identified approximately 300 children within this database they are attempting to rescue.Once repatriated, the organization provides rehabilitation programs to help the children and their families rebuild their lives.
Reports indicate the children are subjected to russian propaganda and, in some cases, granted Russian citizenship and integrated into Russian families. The United Nations has declared these actions constitute war crimes, and the International Criminal Court has issued an arrest warrant for russian President vladimir Putin in connection with the alleged deportations.
Kuleba implored the international community, “Stand with us, pray for us, for innocent children who’re being held hostage.”
The situation remains dire as a peaceful resolution to the conflict remains elusive.
