UPROOTED | An investigation into Russia’s abduction of Ukrainian children

The Ukrainian government has identified over 19,500 Ukrainian children who have been forcibly deported to Russia. The Kyiv Independent’s War Crimes Investigation Unit established the names of Russian-controlled officials who took part in the abduction and followed the paths of families who risked their lives to bring their children back. The Kyiv Independent found 31 children taken to Russia in May 2022 from occupied parts of Ukraine. The children have not been returned to Ukraine. Part of the group was later put up for adoption in Russia. Among them was Pylyp Holovnya, illegally adopted by Russia’s Commissioner for Children’s Rights Maria Lvova-Belova. The International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant against Lvova-Belova for her part in the abduction of Ukrainian children. The documentary is released with the support of Microsoft and the Kyiv Independent community. The Kyiv Independent is almost entirely funded by our readers. Investigations and quality video production are both expensive, requiring a lot of resources. The best way to support our new unit is by either becoming a monthly or annual member or making a one-time contribution. You can support us from as little as $1, and it only takes a minute. Information partners of the project: NGO “SOS Children’s Villages,“ NGO “Ukrainian Network for Children’s Rights,“ Ukrainian Helsinki Union for Human Rights, Coalition “Ukraine: Five AM,“ Regional Center for Human Rights, NGO “PR Army,“ NGO “Razom for Ukraine,“ Vitsche Berlin, United24 Media, European Resilience Initiative Center, NGO “YurFem,“ NGO “Docudays,“ Charitable fund“ Save Ukraine.“