Europol and Partners Claim to Trace 45 Ukrainian Children Amidst Ongoing Conflict

The Hague, Netherlands – The European Union’s law enforcement agency, Europol, has announced that investigators, in collaboration with various partners, have reportedly traced 45 Ukrainian children who, according to their findings, were forcibly transferred to Russia, Belarus, or Ukrainian territories under Russian control during the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

In a statement released on Monday, Europol indicated that the information gathered regarding these children has been shared with Ukrainian authorities. This data is intended to support Kyiv’s ongoing investigations into the matter.

Methodology and Collaboration

The details concerning the children were uncovered through the use of publicly available information, a method known as OSINT (open-source intelligence). This process was part of a two-day “hackathon” event. The initiative brought together approximately 40 experts from 18 different countries, alongside representatives from the International Criminal Court (ICC) and various non-governmental organizations, all collaborating in The Hague.

Ukrainian Allegations and International Accusations

Ukrainian authorities in Kyiv have consistently stated that nearly 19,546 children have been forcibly removed from Ukrainian regions occupied by Russia since the full-scale invasion commenced in February 2022. Europol further added to these claims, stating, “Some of these children have been adopted by Russian nationals, while others are being held in re-education camps or psychiatric hospitals.”

Ukrainian officials express concerns that the actual number could be significantly higher, as many children may have lost their parents during the hostilities and are unable to contact relatives within Ukraine.

Last month, a United Nations international commission of inquiry leveled accusations against Moscow, asserting that it had committed “crimes against humanity” by forcibly deporting thousands of Ukrainian children to Russia and obstructing their return.

Russia’s Stance and Denials

The International Criminal Court (ICC) has previously issued arrest warrants for Russian President Vladimir Putin and Maria Lvova-Belova, Russia’s Commissioner for Children’s Rights. These warrants are based on allegations of war crimes, specifically involving the unlawful deportation and transfer of children.

However, Moscow has vehemently denied these allegations. Russian officials maintain that they have been evacuating people, including children, voluntarily from what they describe as a warzone. Russia asserts that the transfer of Ukrainian children from captured areas was undertaken for their own safety and has stated its readiness to return them to their families under conditions it deems appropriate.

A Sensitive Issue in Peace Talks

This issue remains highly sensitive for Ukraine and continues to be a central point of contention in any potential peace negotiations between Kyiv and Moscow. Daria Herasymchuk, a Ukrainian presidential adviser on children’s rights, was quoted by Al Jazeera in June 2025 as stating, “The aim is genocide of the Ukrainian people through Ukrainian children. Everybody understands that if you take children away from a nation, the nation will not exist.”