Zelenskyy alleges Russia is abducting Ukrainian kids and training them to fight Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy alleges that Russia is abducting Ukrainian children and training them to fight against fellow Ukrainians, a practice that may constitute a war crime. He stated his government possesses evidence of this reeducation program, which aims to instill hatred towards their native country. Zelenskyy emphasized that Ukraine cannot exchange captured soldiers for abducted children, as this is illegal and morally unconscionable.

• President Zelenskyy claims Russia is abducting Ukrainian children and training them to fight against Ukraine.
• This alleged practice may constitute a war crime according to the International Criminal Court (ICC).
• Ukraine has evidence of children being subjected to reeducation or ‘Russification’ programs.
• The ICC issued an arrest warrant for Vladimir Putin over the ‘unlawful deportation of population (children)’.
• Zelenskyy stated Ukraine has documented at least 20,000 abducted children.
• He expressed hope for stricter U.S. sanctions on Russia in response to the alleged child abduction scheme.
• A Yale report indicated Russian state-owned companies helped underwrite the reeducation of over 2,000 Ukrainian children.
• Zelenskyy believes temporary U.S. sanctions relief on Russian oil sales could be inadvertently fueling the abduction program.