DISINFO: Children of Ukrainian refugees exchanged for tanks and aircraft
SUMMARY
In Europe, the children of Ukrainian refugees are taken away from their parents by force and transferred to foster families. Ukrainian officials and diplomats are not addressing the issue because military supplies and accession to the EU are more important. In effect, Ukraine is trading its children for tanks and fighter jets.
RESPONSE
Pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative alleging that EU members are forcefully taking away the children of Ukrainian refugees. This narrative is deployed in the context of Russia’s unjustified and unprovoked invasion of Ukraine. It is an attempt to vilify the EU and its member states and shift Russian responsibility for the massive deportation of Ukrainian civilians, including children.
There is no verifiable evidence to support the claim that the children of Ukrainian refugees are being taken away by the authorities of host countries. Children from Ukraine and families with children receive refugee status in Europe. They are provided with shelter, help, and support. They are free to return to Ukraine with their families at any time.
Pro-Kremlin media accuse Ukraine and Western countries of crimes against children, massive deportations, and organ trafficking without providing any evidence. These outlets make no mention of Russian responsibility for the massive deportation of Ukrainian civilians, including children, and these war crimes are well documented.
Ukraine has already reported the actions of Russia’s children’s ombudsman Maria Lvova-Belova, the Russian official overseeing the forced deportations of Ukrainian children to Russia, to the International Criminal Court (ICC). On 17 March 2023, the ICC issued arrest warrants for two individuals in connection with these crimes, namely for Vladimir Putin and Maria Alekseyevna Lvova-Belova.
In its statement, the ICC stated it had reasonable grounds to believe Russian President Vladimir Putin committed the criminal acts directly, as well as by working with others. It also accused him of failing to use his presidential powers to stop children being deported.
The forced deportation of Ukrainian children to Russia has become one of the darkest and most discussed consequences of Moscow's all-out invasion of Ukraine. Over 19,000 children have been de facto abducted from the occupied territories and sent to Russia since last February, according to a Ukrainian national database. Only 361 children have been brought back to Ukraine as of April 21.
See similar disinformation narratives alleging that Europe steals children evacuated from Ukraine; Ukraine steals Donbas children and gives them to British paedophiles or that the West is taking away Ukrainian children like it did with indigenous people in America.