There is strong evidence that Russian President Vladimir Putin is responsible for the illegal deportation of Ukrainian children from the occupied territories. The International Criminal Court in The Hague issued a warrant for his arrest.

The investigation confirmed cases of deportation of at least hundreds of children. The invaders took them out of orphanages and boarding schools. This was stated by the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court Karim Khan.

Many of these children were given up for adoption in Russia. Putin's decree even changed the law to speed up the granting of Russian citizenship, making it easier for them to be adopted by Russian families.

The prosecutor stressed that the perpetrators must be punished

Khan noted that on the basis of evidence collected by his Office, the Pre-Trial Chamber confirmed that there were sufficient grounds to believe that President Putin and Ms Lvova-Belova were criminally responsible for the illegal deportation and displacement of Ukrainian children. At the time of their deportation, they were under the protection of the Fourth Geneva Convention.

The prosecutor stressed that it is necessary to ensure that the perpetrators are brought to justice and the children are returned to their families.

We cannot allow children to be treated as if they were spoils of war,” Khan said.

He added that they would submit further motions for arrest warrants when the evidence required it.