US State Department blocks visas for five Russian officials involved in abductions of Ukrainian children

The United States is "deeply concerned" about the growing number of reports of abductions and illegal adoptions of Ukrainian children by Russian citizens. As a result, the visas of five Russian officials involved in these crimes were blocked.

This was announced by the US State Department on December 4. The State Department did not disclose the names or positions of the Russian officials under this sanction.

"The deportation of children from Ukraine is a deliberate, systematic practice of the Kremlin that began even before the full-scale invasion," the department said.

As noted, visa restrictions for five Russian officials were imposed "due to their involvement in human rights violations in Ukraine, including the forced deportation, transfer and imprisonment of Ukrainian children."

"Since the beginning of its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Russia has unjustly and illegally transferred or deported thousands of Ukrainian children. The Kremlin authorities have created numerous obstacles to the return of these children to Ukraine. Russia's continued disregard for its international legal obligations to report the whereabouts of these children makes their safe return nearly impossible," said State Department spokesman Matthew Miller.

The United States has promised to continue to "use all available tools" to assist Ukraine in the return of children abducted by Russia. The United States also promises to promote justice for the victims – that is, to bring to justice those involved in these crimes.

As reported by OBOZ.UA, back in March 2023, Russian dictator Putin received the official status of a suspect in the commission of an international crime – the illegal forced transfer of Ukrainian children from the occupied territories of Ukraine to the Russian Federation. The ICC also issued an arrest warrant for Russian Children's Commissioner Maria Lvova-Belova.

A study by the Yale University School of Public Health provided evidence that the abduction of children was part of a systematic Kremlin-funded program aimed at depriving minors of their Ukrainian identity. The deportation of Ukrainian children involved the aircraft of the Russian dictator's administration, as well as state resources.

During the full-scale war, Russia abducted hundreds of Ukrainian children from Donbas alone. The locations of the underage Ukrainians and the routes of their deportation have also been established.

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