DISINFO: Claims about ‘abducted’ Ukrainian children are Western media crime against Russia
SUMMARY
Since Russia’s special military operation started in Ukraine, Western media have been full of fake and absurd stories about the alleged crimes of Russian troops. The list starts with a recent lie about the alleged ‘abduction’ of Ukrainian children by Russia, which follows the pattern of all the previous lies: total absence of evidence and an accusation based in arbitrary statements and opinions from Kyiv and its allies. Other lies of the list include the so-called “Bucha massacre”, the alleged mass raping of Ukrainian women by Russian troops or the bombing of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant.
RESPONSE
Contrary to what this disinformation story claims, there is a sizable body of evidence proving these war crimes, atrocities and questionable actions.
The abduction and forced transportation of Ukrainian children to Russia has been documented by the UN, Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, Yale University, Estonia’s International Centre for Defence and Security, an investigate team at the Associated Press, the EBU Investigative Journalism Network, Ukrainian authorities and activists, and even some Ukrainian children and Russian officials themselves.
On 1 March 2023, Poland launched a joint initiative with the European Commission to trace Ukrainian children abducted by Russia.
On 2 March 2023, International Criminal Court Prosecutor, Karim Khan decided to seek authorisation to open an investigation into the situation in Ukraine. It includes within its scope any past and present allegations of war crimes, crimes against humanity or genocide committed on any part of the territory of Ukraine by any person.
On 4 March EU Commission President von der Leyen declared: "Torture, ill-treatment, sexual violence, and summary executions are known to have been committed by Russian forces. Not even children are being spared. Russia must be held accountable for these horrific crimes. Putin must be held accountable.“
See also our article ‘Blessed’ are the ‘evacuated’.
See here for similar recollections of evidences about the Bucha massacre, mass raping of Ukrainian women by Russian troops, and incidents on the Zaporizhzhia plant.
See other examples of similar disinformation narratives, such as claims that the West fights Russia through psy-ops like Bucha and the Mariupol maternity hospital, that Kyiv, the US and Europe prepare a media provocation to turn the world against Russia, that ‘Izyum atrocities’ were staged by Ukraine through controlled media, or that Ukraine is setting up to accuse Russia of war crimes.