Russia has deported and forcibly transferred 20,000 Ukrainian children.
85% confidence
Foreign AffairsEurope
Omissions
The figure of 20,000 comes from Ukrainian authorities and represents their estimate; precise independent verification of the exact number is difficult due to the ongoing conflict and lack of access to Russian-controlled territories.
The ICC arrest warrant from March 2023 specifically cited the war crime of illegal deportation of children but did not specify an exact number in the warrant itself.
Some sources indicate 'almost 20,000' or 'about 20,000' rather than an exact figure of 20,000.
The claim omits that the ICC has specifically classified these acts as war crimes, with broader investigations ongoing into potential crimes against humanity.
Sources
PrimaryInternational Criminal Court (ICC)ICC issued arrest warrants on March 17, 2023 for Vladimir Putin and Maria Lvova-Belova for the war crime of illegal deportation of children from occupied areas of Ukraine to the Russian Federation
SecondaryBBC NewsUkraine says almost 20,000 children have been illegally sent to Russia and Belarus; ICC issued arrest warrants in 2023