Russia’s violence against children in Ukraine has come to light and it is heartbreaking. According to a report released last week by the Ukrainian Ministry of Justice, more than two thousand criminal cases of murder, torture, and sexual violence against children have been registered in Ukraine in the past three years.
The report highlights the continued suffering inflicted on children since Russia’s invasion of the Crimean Peninsula in Ukraine in 2014. It documents the disturbing cases of extreme violence, including child abduction, forced labor and trafficking, as well as sexual violence.
The report paints a particularly grim picture for children growing up in eastern Ukraine, where the conflict has lasted more than six years. In the Donbas region, where heavy fighting has occurred for years, the number of seriously injured and disabled children has more than tripled over the same time period.
The report also found that children living in the territories occupied by Russia have been disproportionately affected by the conflict. Nearly 25 percent of victims of grave violations of children’s rights in Ukraine were children from these territories. This includes not only the Donbas region, but also the separatist republics of Luhansk and Donetsk in eastern Ukraine.
The report argues that Russia bears responsibility for the torture, murder, and sexual violence against children in Ukraine in the past three years as its occupation forces exercise effective control over the territories.
The report recommends that the government of Ukraine take legal actions against the perpetrators and hold Russia accountable for its actions. The Ministry of Justice also called on the international community to take action to protect children and demanded that Russia withdraw its forces from Ukraine.
Children should not have to endure such horrendous treatment and action must be taken to ensure their safety and security. The world must join together and take a strong stance against these atrocities and the responsible parties must be held accountable.
