Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets has stated that no one will know the exact number of deported children without an effective mechanism for obtaining information from Russia.
According to official data, Russia has illegally deported over 19,000 Ukrainian children. However, the true number remains unknown and cannot be determined until there is an effective official mechanism for obtaining such information from Russia.
This was reported by the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights, Dmytro Lubinets, as reported by Interfax-Ukraine.
"I cite the number of 19,546 Ukrainian children (deported by Russia) based on the specially created web portal "Children of War". This figure is officially stated there. As for the possible actual number, no one really knows," the Ombudsman said at the 4th Summit of First Ladies and Gentlemen.
Lubinets added that, according to available data, in August, Russia had sent over a thousand Ukrainian children from the temporarily occupied part of Kherson region to the so-called "rehabilitation" in the Russian region of Kabardino-Balkaria, and it is unknown how many of them will return.
"So, how many this figure (deported children) might actually be remains unknown until we have an effective official mechanism for obtaining such information from Russia. This should be done by international organizations, the UN, the International Committee of the Red Cross. I have used all these opportunities, reached out directly to the High Commissioner, to the Commissioner for Refugees, directly to the UN. Unfortunately, I have not received any official response with figures or confirmed Ukrainian children," Lubinets noted.
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