Russia’s war against Ukraine has now endured for two years. Much of what has happened since then is horrific; including the systematic deportation of Ukrainian children to Russia or to Russian-occupied territories such as Crimea. It has now reached 20,000 – according to Ukrainian authorities. These are the known cases. Children, whose names we know. The number of unreported cases is far higher. Aid organisations estimate the number to lie between 250,000 and 300,000.

On 17 March 2023, the International Court of Justice issued an international arrest warrant against Vladimir Putin and his Commissioner for Children’s Rights, Marija Lwowa-Belowa. Both are believed to be responsible for the war crime of unlawfully deporting and transferring Ukrainian children from Ukraine’s occupied territories to the Russian Federation.

Wladimir Klitschko, the brother of Kyiv Major Vitali Klitschko, and Tatjana Kiel published a book in September 2023: “Stolen Lives. The Kidnapped Children of Ukraine”. It contains reports from children, young people, parents, grandparents, aunts. Most, but not all, have achieved the unbelievable: the relatives have brought their kidnapped children back to their families in Ukraine. These are stories with only a seemingly happy ending – after all, many of those who returned are traumatised.

Most of the kidnapped children are still in Russia or in the territories occupied by Russia: in some cases, they were forcibly adopted, have new names and were thus robbed of their identity. They can no longer be found. These are “children from bombed cities whose parents are dead; children who were forcibly separated from their parents in the territories seized by the Russian army and sent to Russia; children taken to a holiday camp by their parents to flee from the war, or children who were housed in orphanages.” The children recounting their stories in the book, “Stolen Lives”, symbolise all these kidnapped children and the suffering of their families who have not yet been successfully reunited and it is unknown if they ever will be.

Many of those in the book share a similar fate. Most of them are teenagers from the Kherson region. In many cases, teachers and head teachers collaborate with the Russian occupiers. “The children are often taken from schools in their hundreds and distributed on buses, trains or ships.” Almost all of them were deported to Crimea. It is always a similar procedure: at first a camp, which is similar to a holiday camp. Then a second, a third. Here, everyday life resembles that of labour camps. “In the camps, every child will be brainwashed at some point”. “As soon as the children are ripped away from their parents, attempts are made to re-educate them.” Only Russian is allowed to be spoken. Every morning, they have to sing the Russian anthem and receive Russian “history lessons”. They are talked into believing that their families have forgotten them and that they would be better off in Russia. Threats and violence are used to try to bend the will of the children. Resistant young people are severely punished. They are isolated in cellars. They are threatened with torture and forced adoption. Only a minority succeed in making contact with their relatives and being picked up.

But why? What does this achieve? In the book, those who stand up for the kidnapped children make their voices heard, whether it be to liberate them or to care for them following the return to their families. Publisher Wladimir Klitschko is certain: “russia^[1] attacks Ukrainian children to kill Ukraine, but also to save russia, which is suffering from a serious birth deficit.” Kateryna, who works for the NGO “Save Ukraine”, is convinced: “One day, these kids are expected to fight against their own former compatriots.” The military training in many of the camps is a clear indication of this. From Germany, Tatjana Kiel, second publisher and long-term companion of Wladimir Klitschko, advocates for the liberation of Ukrainian children. She, too, confirms that these are systematic kidnappings and have been planned for a long time: a few months after the outbreak of war, on 30 May 2022, Vladimir Putin signed a decree that allows adoption proceedings for Ukrainian children to be shortened to 24 hours! What is more, date of birth, place of birth and the name of the child can be changed – according to the presidential decree. What was the purpose of this!? It aims to make it impossible for Ukrainian parents to ever find their children again. They are to disappear without a trace.

The NGO “Save Ukraine”, founded by Mykola Kuleba, that has been instrumental in saving children, had brought back 123 children to their families by the time of book publication. In view of the suspected number of kidnapped children, 123 children sound like a drop in the ocean. However: “It’s not simply a number, these are 123 lives, 123 souls, the fates of 123 people”, according to Kateryna from “Save Ukraine". “These children are our hope, our future. Without them, we’re nothing.” “I would like a lot of people to read this book and understand what atrocities are taking place on our doorstep [...].” We cannot agree more with this wish of journalist Sabine Oelmann, who conducted the interviews.

[1] Wladimir Klitschko deliberately writes “russia” in the lower case, “after all, a so-called great power that deprives a free people such as Ukraine of their right to exist and has attacked and threatened many others, doesn’t deserve to be capitalised.” P.10.

Dr Wladimir Klitschko and Tatjana Kiel condemn Russia’s monstrous war tactics. Her book “Stolen Lives. The Kidnapped Children of Ukraine”, gives a voice to courageous children and young people, who talk about their fates, about families torn apart and successful rescues, about a lost childhood and the fight for freedom.

You can find more information about the book and how to order it here.