A recent study by the Yale School of Public Health’s Humanitarian Research Lab (HRL) has exposed Belarus’s alleged collaboration with Russia in forcibly transferring over 2,400 Ukrainian children from Russian-occupied parts of Ukraine. The study claims that Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko directly oversaw this alarming program, leaving an indelible mark on the fate of children aged between six and 17. This collusion with Moscow in orchestrating the deportations has sent shockwaves globally, raising concerns about human rights violations and the illicit removal of minors.
Coordinated Effort Unveiled
The Yale HRL report, released on Thursday, underscores the depth of collaboration between Belarus and Russia in forcibly removing Ukrainian children. According to the study, the deportations, directly overseen by Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, involved transporting the children from Russian-occupied Ukraine through Russia to various facilities across Belarus. The research claims that children have been subjected to re-education, including military training, painting a disturbing picture of their fate.
Lukashenko’s Alleged Role and Funding
The report implicates Belarus’s authoritarian leader, Alexander Lukashenko, as a key figure in jointly directing and co-funding the deportations alongside Russian President Vladimir Putin. The collaboration is said to be rooted in the Union State initiative established in 1996. The researchers argue that Lukashenko’s close alliance with Putin has paved the way for this egregious violation of international humanitarian law, as both leaders allegedly facilitated the program through pro-Russia and pro-regime organizations.
International Outcry and Legal Implications
The international community, already critical of Russia’s actions, has expressed profound concern over Belarus’s involvement in this alarming initiative. The United States State Department has denounced the revelations, emphasizing that these actions are part of a broader campaign directed by Russia. With an International Criminal Court arrest warrant already issued for Putin over similar allegations, the legal implications are grave. Taking children across borders without parental consent is illegal under international humanitarian law, and both Belarus and Russia could face serious consequences for their alleged roles in this illicit operation.
As Kyiv investigates Belarus’s involvement in the forcible transfer of children, the gravity of the situation becomes increasingly apparent. Belarusian state media’s publication of Ukrainian children arriving in the country for a “three-week holiday” in September adds a troubling layer to the allegations. The head of the charity leading the program, Alexei Talai, confirmed Lukashenko’s endorsement of the initiative, describing it as an “important humanitarian project.”
The Yale HRL report reveals that children were taken from at least 17 cities in eastern Ukraine, including Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhia regions. They were subsequently transported to Belarus through Rostov-on-Don in Russia, with the majority ending up in the “Dubrava children’s camp” in Minsk, the Belarusian capital.
