Russia is using Ukraine's children to win its occupation—and the wider war
A year or so after the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the city of Murmansk in Russia's Arctic northwest marked its annual regional day with a celebration for children. Alongside the sons and daughters of Russian soldiers stood children taken from the occupied Prymorskyi district of Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia region.
In the aftermath of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, children from the occupied regions are being forcibly removed and relocated to Russia and Belarus. As of September 2026, only 2,644 of the 20,651 children deported since 2022 have been returned to Ukraine. According to an estimate shared by Russian officials, the number of children deported could be as high as 744,000.
The International Criminal Court has issued arrest warrants for Russian President Vladimir Putin and Maria Lvova-Belova, the Russian children's commissioner, for their involvement in this policy.
Researchers at King's College London have identified at least 47 individuals directly responsible for these deportations, ranging from regional governors to business executives. Some of these individuals are currently under Western sanctions, while others are not.
The deportation of children serves as a tool for the Russian occupation, creating a divide between families and ensuring the next generation grows up without identifying as Ukrainian. Deported children are often placed in Siberia, the Arctic, or the Far East, with Russian families providing them with shelter. Parents in occupied cities face pressure from Russian authorities to comply with the regime's demands for the return of their children.
In the long term, Russia aims to prevent Ukrainian children from feeling a connection to their homeland, instead instilling a Russian identity. This is achieved through systematic reeducation and military training programs, such as the "Eaglets of Russia" and the "Youth Army," which have enrolled tens of thousands of children. These programs not only provide military training but also instill a sense of loyalty to Russia and its leaders.
The impact of these policies extends beyond the occupied territories. After returning to Ukraine, these children face a challenging dual adaptation process, struggling to rebuild their identities while navigating a foreign environment. Ukraine has no unified state program to support these children, who currently number roughly 1.6 million.
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