Why transferring minors from Ukraine to the NGCA and russia is against international law, and what the family of activist Sergiy Tsygipa detained in Kherson has to say after watching a video of him shown by pro-russian channels – find out in this digest.

Recently, 11-year-old Kira Obedynska returned to Ukraine. The girl used to live in Mariupol with her father, who died. On March 25, she was injured in a mine explosion while trying to get out of the city. She was taken to a hospital in Mariupol, already occupied by the russians, and then to Donetsk. Along with Kira, 9-year-old Ilya Matviyenko returned to Ukraine. According to various estimates, there may be between 40 and 200 thousand Ukrainian children in russia right now, taken there under the guise of evacuation.

According to Darya Kasyanova, program director of the charity SOS Children’s Villages, some of the displaced orphans still have family in Ukraine.

«These are children from foster families and family-type orphanages, injured children from Mariupol and those who were in Mariupol health and recreation centers. They were taken to Donetsk through Mangush. Some of them are in recreation centers in russia already; those are used as temporary accommodation in Rostov Oblast, Taganrog and around Taganrog,» Darya Kasyanova told MIHR.

 

International law does allow the transfer of children in wartime under certain circumstances, says Kateryna Rashevska, lawyer of the Regional Center for Human Rights. These circumstances are given in Article 49 of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War:

🔹 the need for medical attention, when there is a threat to the life or health of a child;
🔹 military reasons. For instance, when a military unit is stationed near a kindergarten.

However, according to Kateryna, even if such circumstances existed, russia would be required to discuss with Ukraine where the children should be transferred. There have been no such discussions, which shows that the evacuation was done in violation of IHL. More than that – the deportation of children is an element of genocide. See Kateryna’s explanation in this material.

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Two months have passed since activist and volunteer Sergiy Tsygipa was detained. He disappeared on March 12 when, accompanied by his dog, he went to the neighboring town of Tavriysk to bring medicines and food to the locals. Recently, a russian TV channel showed a video with Sergiy, in which he says that he’s in russia. The activist’s wife, Olena, believes that the video was made under coercion. While watching, she noticed signs of torture on him.

«I saw two broken fingers, because there’s a noticeable greenish color to the knuckles of his right hand. His right hand was broken, I understand, because during the whole interview, whenever he moved it, he would immediately hold it with his left. The shirt is too big, so I think he has broken ribs too,» says Olena.

«I saw two broken fingers, because there’s a noticeable greenish color to the knuckles of his right hand. His right hand was broken, I understand, because during the whole interview, whenever he moved it, he would immediately hold it with his left. The shirt is too big, so I think he has broken ribs too,» says Olena.

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