According to the report, since the Russian invasion, 669 Ukrainian children died and more than 1,800 were injured
The UN (United Nations) released this Friday (21.mar.2025) a report that condemns suffering “unimaginable” millions of Ukrainian children since the invasion of Russia.
The document, prepared by the (High Commissioner of the United Nations Human Rights), reveals systematic violations of children’s rights in all areas affected by the conflict. Read A, in English (PDF – 3.18 MB).
Between February 24, 2022 and December 31, 2024, according to the UN report, 669 children died and 1,833 were injured, mainly because of the extensive use of explosive weapons in populated areas. Of these, 521 died and 1,529 were injured in Ukraine -controlled territory, while 148 died and 304 were injured in busy areas.
The real numbers are probably much larger. This is because it is difficult to verify the data independently and to accurately know the age of the victims.
“The ongoing hostilities and the occupation of parts of Ukraine by the Russian Federation caused large -scale human rights violations and inflicted unimaginable suffering to millions of children. Their rights were undermined in all aspects of life, leaving deep scars, both physical and psychosocial“Said Volker Türk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.
Until December 2024, about 737,000 children had been necessarily displaced within the country, while 1.7 million were refugees. Many children are separated from at least 1 of the parents, usually from the father.
The report points out that children are especially vulnerable. The UNUDH found that, in the first year after the invasion, at least 200 children, including many who lived in institutions, were transferred to busy territories or to Russia – which can configure war crimes.
Moscow said earlier that he was protecting vulnerable children from a war zone. However, for Ukraine, transfers are war crimes that meet the definition of genocide according to the UN treaty.
In March 2023, the (International Criminal Court) for Russian President Vladimir Putin, and for his children’s rights commissioner, Maria Lvova-Belova, regarding the forced deportation of Ukrainian children. Russia denounced the warrants as “outrageous and unacceptable“.
According to the Red Cross International Committee, about 50,000 people were reported missing in the war between Ukraine and Russia last year.
Impacts on school life
After illegally attached 4 Ukrainian regions in 2022, the Russian authorities implemented profound changes in the laws and institutions of these areas: they imposed Russian citizenship and school curriculum, restricted access to education in Ukrainian and prioritized military-patriotic training in schools, exposing children to war propaganda. These changes violate international humanitarian law.
During the period analyzed, at least 1,614 attacks destroyed or damaged schools. In response, the Ukrainian authorities implemented various measures, including the requirement of anti -bomb shelters in school institutions or online classes.
More than 1/3 of Ukrainian children attend the school in whole or partially over the internet.
According to the UN report, after 3 years of incessant hostilities, the level of educational performance of children decreased, compromising their future educational trajectory and their ability to perform their full potential.
The High Commissioner stressed the importance of recognizing and addressing these violations to ensure a future in which all Ukrainian children can recover their rights, identity and security.
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