Russia Takes 12 Ukrainian War Orphans to Moscow for Brainwashing Tours
The Russian-installed authorities have taken 12 Ukrainian children from a local social shelter in the temporarily occupied town of Khartsyzsk, Donetsk Oblast, to Moscow for what they claim are “Christmas holidays,” as reported by the Ukrainian Center for National Resistance.
Deportation of Children:
According to Ukraine’s estimates, Russia has deported nearly 20,000 children from occupied territories since the beginning of the all-out war, with only 800 returned by Kyiv. The Ukrainian authorities are actively seeking information about Ukrainian children through Europol, as well as European and global institutions.
Details of the Incident:
The children taken from the shelter include those who have lost their parents due to the Russian invasion, as well as those who lived along the front lines and lost their homes. While in Moscow, the orphans are set to participate in propaganda tours to “places of glory” in Russia, with the goal of erasing their Ukrainian identity and brainwashing them. Additionally, the Ukrainian children will be living with Russian families for what the authorities claim is “the purpose of assimilation.”
Expert Commentary:
The Resistance Center emphasizes the severity of the situation, stating that Russians are openly denying the right of the Ukrainian nation to exist and committing genocide against Ukrainians in the 21st century. They highlight the attempt to alter the self-identity of Ukrainian children as not just a policy, but an attempt to destroy the nation and erase their past.
Investigation and Allegations:
In December 2024, representatives from Ukraine’s government, alongside investigators from Yale, plan to present new evidence before a special meeting of the UN Security Council. This evidence supports the charges that Russia has been stealing Ukrainian children and forcing them to adopt Russian identities. The Yale Humanitarian Research Lab has identified Russian government aircraft allegedly used in transporting Ukrainian orphans from Russian-occupied areas in eastern Ukraine.
Closing Thoughts:
The situation involving the 12 Ukrainian war orphans taken to Moscow for brainwashing tours sheds light on the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine. The plight of these children serves as a poignant reminder of the human cost of war and the lengths to which some forces will go to assert dominance. It is crucial for global institutions and communities to come together to protect the rights and identities of vulnerable populations, especially children, in times of conflict and crisis.
