A Yale University report released Tuesday alleges that Russia has forcibly adopted at least 314 Ukrainian children from Russian-occupied regions since its 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Conducted by Yale’s Humanitarian Research Lab, the investigation claims Russian President Vladimir Putin and senior Kremlin officials directly orchestrated the program, which could constitute war crimes under international law.
The children were reportedly placed in Russian foster care or adoption systems, with at least 67 already naturalized as Russian citizens. Researchers believe the true number is higher, as Russian foster parents can apply for citizenship on behalf of the children. Nathaniel Raymond, the lab’s executive director, shared during a press briefing Tuesday, “This is extremely important because now it basically creates a method by which their Ukrainian identity can be erased.”
The report indicates that Russian government aircraft, including planes from Putin’s presidential fleet, were used to transport the children to their placements. Researchers mapped these flights using satellite imagery and open-source data, and they obtained verified leaked documents tying senior officials to the program. The report highlights that the children have been listed in Russia’s child placement databases, with some already residing with Russian families.
The findings could serve as evidence in the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) ongoing case against Putin and Russia’s commissioner for children, Maria Lvova-Belova. Both face ICC arrest warrants for their roles in the deportation and coerced adoption of Ukrainian children. Russia, which is not a signatory to the ICC and rejects its jurisdiction, defends the adoptions as a humanitarian effort, denying accusations of war crimes.
Ukraine has condemned the actions as a violation of international law. Justice Minister Olha Stefanishyna is pressing Russia to provide a full registry of Ukrainian children in its custody. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged international support, stating that returning the children requires the help of Ukraine’s allies.
Stefanishyna went on to add, “This data is very important because every destiny of every child which has been subjected to the Russian aggression through this horrific war crime is to be brought back to Ukraine.”
Raymond plans to present the report’s findings to the United Nations Security Council, emphasizing the long-term consequences of Russia’s actions. “What Russia has done here, if left unconfronted, is to make children a bargaining chip, and we cannot allow that to happen,” he said.
The report calls for increased global efforts to protect children in conflict zones and ensure the safe return of Ukrainian children to their homeland.
