Missing Children from Kherson Orphanage Found in Russian Adoption Database - Ombudsman Lubinets Responds

According to information provided by Ukrinform, Ukraine's Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets published an important statement on his Telegram channel, informing the public about troubling findings related to Ukrainian children who were forcibly taken from the Kherson orphanage in 2022. It has come to light that the profiles of these children have been posted on a Russian state adoption portal, raising serious concerns.

Lubinets emphasized that these data completely lack any mention of Ukraine or the true origins of the children. In his view, this is further confirmation of Russia's deliberate policy aimed at erasing the Ukrainian identity of these children and legitimizing their abduction. "This is not just a coincidence; it is a systemic practice that has been ongoing since 2014," he noted.

The Ombudsman stressed that the process of abducting Ukrainian children is part of a broader strategy that includes forced relocation or deportation, document alteration, adoption, as well as total re-education and militarization. Lubinets highlighted the critical importance of timing in this situation. "While the world hesitates, Ukrainian children are growing up in foreign families under the flag of the aggressor country, in an atmosphere of coercion, pressure, and fear," he stated.

He also pointed out that these children are being stripped of their native language, memory, and identity, while hostile propaganda is imposed upon them, preparing them for military service against their own homeland. Lubinets called for urgent action, appealing to international partners: "Help us in our efforts to return Ukrainian children. Join the work of the International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children. Become intermediary countries."

The Ombudsman emphasized that action must be taken now, while the identities of Ukrainian children have not been completely erased. He stressed that the forcible transfer of children to another national group constitutes a gross violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention and bears the hallmarks of genocide under the Rome Statute.

"The Ombudsman's Office is systematically working on the return of Ukrainian children. With our assistance under the Bring Kids Back UA initiative, we have already managed to return 10 children from the Kherson orphanage home. Overall, since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, Ukraine has returned 2,083 children. We must unite for the main goal - to bring every Ukrainian child home," Lubinets added.

Furthermore, as reported by Ukrinform, seven Ukrainian children who were successfully returned home on April 3 visited the Child Rights Protection Center. There, they can receive legal assistance, material and technical support, as well as comprehensive social and psychological support. This situation underscores the urgent need for immediate response and active action from the international community to protect the rights of Ukrainian children.