An investigation conducted by the Yale Humanitarian Research Lab has revealed that at least 210 facilities across Russia and occupied Ukraine have housed deported Ukrainian children since February 2022. The findings detail a system of reeducation, militarization, adoption, and detention, with strong evidence of direct state involvement.
Background: From Allegation to Investigation
A number of Ukrainian children were taken by the Russian government from territories seized or occupied following its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Russia claimed the transfers were conducted for safety or humanitarian purposes amid active conflict zones. However, some alleged that many children were forcibly removed without parental consent.
The Humanitarian Research Lab, based at the Yale School of Public Health, conducted the investigation to document and verify allegations of child deportations during the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Its work builds on longstanding expertise in humanitarian health research, open-source investigation, and the preservation of legally admissible evidence.
Professor Kaveh Khoshnood, Executive Director Nathaniel Raymond, and Project Director Caitlin Howarth led the multidisciplinary research team. The team included epidemiologists, human rights specialists, legal scholars, and open-source intelligence experts to provide expertise in public health crises, displacement, conflict analysis, and humanitarian law.
The investigators used the Berkeley Protocol on Digital Open Source Investigations. Evidence included high-resolution satellite images, government and nonprofit reports, social media content, and other reports to corroborate and validate information. Each suspected site required a minimum of five corroborating sources and independent geolocation verification.
Results of the Investigation: What the Evidence Shows
The investigation confirmed the existence of a vast and organized system for managing deported children. The evidence suggests not isolated incidents but a coordinated network of facilities, programs, and government-managed organizations. The following findings summarize the scale, activities, and implications documented by the Humanitarian Research Lab:
• Scale and Distribution: At least 210 facilities were verified, extending from the Black Sea to Siberia and the Pacific coast. The wide distribution demonstrates a systematic, nationwide program. Researchers caution that this number is a conservative minimum and that additional facilities remain under investigation.
• Types of Facilities: Locations included sanatoriums, schools, orphanages, religious sites, military bases, hotels, and health care facilities. The variety of settings demonstrates the multiple purposes of the program, ranging from temporary housing and indoctrination to military training, adoption processing, and even medical treatment.
• Reeducation Programs: Children underwent pro-Russian ideological programming at about 130 facilities. Activities suppressed Ukrainian identity, required the use of the Russian language, and featured patriotic songs and cultural lessons. The objective was the reshaping of Ukrainian children into loyal Russian citizens.
• Militarization Activities: Military training was determined at 39 facilities. Programs involved drills, weapons handling, tactical medicine, and technical engineering. The All-Russian Children Center Change trained children in firearms and drone development, while the Snegiri Young Patriot Center hosted combat-related conditioning.
• Government Involvement: At least 106 facilities were controlled by Russian government bodies. Evidence showed support from federal ministries, regional authorities, and the Presidential Property Management Department. State-funded youth organizations played significant roles in military-patriotic indoctrination.
• Number of Children: Ukraine has verified at least 19500 deported Ukrainian children. The Humanitarian Research Lab estimates approximately 35000, while Russian officials have claimed 700000. Ukrainian authorities have reported the successful return of 1,605 children with the help of intermediaries like Qatar and the Vatican.
• Ongoing Site Expansion: Satellite imagery revealed construction and expansion at many camps or sites since 2022. This indicates that the program continues to function actively. New facilities are being created and existing ones are under expansion. The evidence suggests no reduction in the scale of these operations.
Implications: Consequences Beyond the Camps
The investigation underscores severe humanitarian, legal, and political consequences. The forced transfer of children is recognized under international law as a potential war crime and crime against humanity. The findings strengthen the basis for additional international legal proceedings on top of those already initiated by the International Criminal Court.
Note that the evidence also illustrates deliberate attempts to erase Ukrainian cultural identity. By exposing children to reeducation and militarization, Russian authorities aim to reshape national allegiances. This can produce long-term demographic and psychological impacts on Ukrainian society that can extend well beyond the immediate context of war.
It is also worth mentioning that the findings present a conservative but reliable picture of a large-scale state-directed system. The methodology ensured rigorous verification, making the evidence suitable for legal accountability. However, according to the investigators, the true scope may be far larger, requiring continued investigation and international monitoring.
The issue has become central to negotiations and peace efforts. Ukrainian officials insist that the return of deported children is a non-negotiable demand. The ongoing expansion of facilities further complicates potential agreements and demonstrates that the program is a continuing state policy of the Russian government rather than a temporary measure.
FURTHER READING AND REFERENCE
- Farrenkopf, P., Howarth, C. N., and Raymond, N. A., et al. 16 September 2025. Ukraine’s Stolen Children: Inside Russia’s Network of Re-Education and Militarization. Humanitarian Research Lab at Yale School of Public Health. Available via PDF