Deportation of Ukrainians during the Russo-Ukrainian war: scale, consequences, and countermeasures

Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine has led to devastating human and infrastructural losses, including significant civilian casualties and the destruction of cities, towns, and villages. The conflict has forced many Ukrainians to change their status to internally displaced persons, while others have had to leave the country entirely. Recent statistics indicate that Ukraine has lost almost a third of its population due to these circumstances. Moreover, the situation is exacerbated by Russia’s mass deportations of Ukrainians from the temporarily occupied territories, a clear violation of human rights and a crime against humanity. These forced transfers, including of children, contravene the Fourth Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War. Deportations began on February 24, 2022, coinciding with the territorial incursions. By mid-2022, it is reported that Russia had forcibly transferred 307 Ukrainian children to its territory. As the conflict intensifies, these deplorable actions have become more frequent. Russia misleadingly labels these forcible transfers as “evacuations,” claiming they are for the people’s safety; however, these occur against the will of those moved and without any prospect of return to Ukraine. It is imperative to document these crimes against humanity, raise awareness within the international community, and press for concerted action by international security institutions to ensure the return of deported Ukrainians and to hold the perpetrators accountable.