Ukrainian Children Abducted by Russia Transferred to North Korea, US Hearing Reveals

At a recent US Congressional hearing, Ukrainian officials disclosed alarming revelations about the abduction of children by Russian forces during the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Legal expert Kateryna Rashevska from Ukraine’s Regional Center for Human Rights testified that at least two Ukrainian children have been forcibly transferred to North Korea, marking a distressing development in the already tragic circumstances surrounding the war. The testimony highlighted the case of 12-year-old Misha from the occupied Donetsk region and 16-year-old Liza from occupied Simferopol in Crimea. Rashevska stated that both children were reportedly sent to the Songdowon camp in North Korea, a staggering 9,000 kilometers away from their homes. Shenoted that at this camp, the children are subjected to indoctrination, learning to "destroy Japanese militarists" and have interactions with Korean veterans who were involved in the 1968 attack on the US Navy ship Pueblo. Since the initiation of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in early 2022, North Korea has been a notable supporter of Moscow, providing military aid and even deploying troops. Reports indicate that North Korea sent around 12,000 troops to Russia last year as part of this support. Amidst this backdrop, Ukrainian authorities have been tirelessly working to recover abducted children. As of now, Kyiv has managed to reunite approximately 1,800 of the over 19,500 Ukrainian children who have been taken by Russian authorities since the aggressions began. These figures pertain to children for whom detailed information is available, but the true number is likely significantly higher. Maria Lvova-Belova, Russia’s Children’s Rights Commissioner, controversially stated that approximately 700,000 Ukrainian children were accepted into Russia between February 2022 and July 2023. This alarming number is supported by research from the Yale Humanitarian Research Lab, which points to around 35,000 Ukrainian children, ranging from infants to teenagers, being held in Russian custody. Many of these children are reportedly relocated to camps where they undergo what has been termed "patriotic reeducation." This process includes bans on speaking Ukrainian and indoctrinating these children with a distorted version of history that seeks to erase Ukrainian culture. The Yale Humanitarian Research Lab recently identified over 210 facilities meant for the indoctrination of these children, many of which are described as militarily trained and held incommunicado. During the congressional subcommittee testimony, Nathaniel Raymond, the Executive Director of the Yale Humanitarian Research Lab, asserted that the unconditional return of all Ukrainian children abducted by Russia should serve as a prerequisite for any negotiated settlement concerning the ongoing conflict. In a parallel development, the United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution demanding the return of all Ukrainian children unlawfully deported by Russia. The resolution received backing from 91 countries, including the United States, while 12 nations, including Russia, Belarus, and Iran, opposed it. The resolution emphasizes the necessity of halting any further deportations and ideological indoctrinations of Ukrainian minors, underscoring the humanitarian implications of these actions. Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister Mariana Betsa, who addressed the UN General Assembly, stressed, "There will be no just peace in Ukraine without the unconditional return of Ukrainian children. This resolution is not about politics. It is about humanity." The situation surrounding the abduction and forced transfer of Ukrainian children not only poses grave concerns for the immediate future but also highlights the broader humanitarian crisis resulting from the ongoing conflict. Efforts to secure the safe return of these children remain a pivotal focus for Ukrainian officials and the international community alike. Related Sources: • Source 1 • Source 2