18 February – the day of the beginning of the forced deportation of Ukrainian children by Russia

Today, 18 February, the world remembers one of the most terrible pages of modern history – the beginning of the mass deportation of Ukrainian children by the occupying forces. Two years ago, six days before the full-scale invasion, the occupying ‘authorities’ of the so-called DPR and LPR announced the ‘evacuation’ of the civilian population, which in fact was nothing but the forced removal of Ukrainian children.

Since then, the rf has continued the systematic abduction and forced russification of children in an attempt to destroy their Ukrainian identity. Young Ukrainians are taken thousands of kilometres away from their native home and forced to forget their culture, language and even their own names. Children are passed off as ‘orphans’, contrary to all international norms, and some are already involved in paramilitary structures, preparing them for participation in future wars.

The Crimean Tatar Resource Center stresses that a whole generation of Ukrainian children who survived the occupation of Crimea are already growing up under conditions of forced Russification and propaganda. In the 11 years since the annexation of Crimea, many of them have become adults, but their future remains in jeopardy. Russia continues to brainwash them, trying to erase everything Ukrainian and destroy their national identity.

It is our shared responsibility not to allow children to remain outside Ukraine. The CTRC calls on us to publicise this crime and do everything possible to secure the children’s future in Ukraine, where they can grow up in a free and independent country.