The European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation, known as Europol, has launched an investigation into the abduction of Ukrainian children by Russia. According to Politico Europe, around 19,500 minors have been considered abducted since the onset of Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine in February 2022. The International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague has already issued arrest warrants for Russian President Vladimir Putin and Maria Lvova-Belova, the Children's Rights Commissioner of Russia.
Europol reports that investigative teams from 18 countries have been involved in the inquiry, leading to new leads in 45 cases of missing children. The exact circumstances of the abductions and the current whereabouts of most of the children remain unclear.
Ukraine accuses Russia of systematically deporting children from occupied territories and facilitating their adoption. The ICC classifies these abductions as war crimes. Europol's operation marks another step in international justice efforts to hold the perpetrators accountable.
