The EU demands that Russia release Ukrainian civilians and disclose information about deported children
The European Union strongly called on Russia to fulfill its international obligations regarding the release of illegally detained Ukrainian civilians. The EU demands to provide full lists of the names and whereabouts of all Ukrainians who have been deprived of their liberty, as well as to ensure immediate and unimpeded access of the International Committee of the Red Cross to all places of detention, both in the occupied territories of Ukraine and in Russia.
About this it is said in a statement following the meeting of the Permanent Council of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in Vienna.
“In this context, it is worth recalling one of the conclusions of the relevant report of the “Moscow Mechanism” from May 2023 – namely, that Russia constantly ignores its duties and obligations under international humanitarian law regarding registration, tracking, communication and re-establishment of contacts with the families of these children, exacerbating the gravity of their situation.” – the statement says.
In addition, the EU expressed deep concern about the fate of thousands of Ukrainian children who remain missing after being deported by Russia. The EU called on Russia to stop violating the rights of these children and to facilitate their return home.
According to the Ukrainian project “Find Your Own”, about 7,500 civilians may have been illegally detained by the Russian military or law enforcement agencies, and only about 200 of them were found. This figure does not take into account the children taken out of Ukraine, which became the basis for the arrest warrant of the President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, issued by the International Criminal Court. At least 40 places where civilian hostages are held are known on the territory of Russia.
The EU emphasized the need for an immediate solution to the issue of missing persons and the release of all illegally detained Ukrainian citizens.
