Russian Occupation Officials Threaten to Seize Newborns in Luhansk Oblast

Russian occupation officials in Luhansk Oblast, Ukraine are threatening to take away newborn children from mothers who cannot prove Russian citizenship of at least one parent starting May 6, according to Artem Lysohor, head of the Luhansk regional military administration. This alarming policy violates Article II(d) of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, which defines genocide as "imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group."

Why this matters: This policy has far-reaching implications for the human rights of Ukrainian citizens and the legitimacy of the Russian occupation. If left unchecked, it could lead to a broader erosion of international law and the normalization of coercive population control measures.

The threat to seize newborns is part of a broader effort by Russian occupation officials to militarize and indoctrinate Ukrainian youth in occupied territories. On May 1, the self-proclaimed "Luhansk People's Republic" announced the development of a new textbook to teach the modern history of occupied Luhansk Oblast in accordance with Russian educational standards. Educational institutions have also received recommendations to monitor protest moods among teenagers and include a high school curriculum that counters alleged cooperation with Ukrainian intelligence and "pro-Western organizations."

In addition, 200 children recently participated in military-patriotic games organized by Russian youth organizations in the occupied cities of Berdiansk and Melitopol, according to Vladimir Rogov, an occupying official in Zaporizhzhia Oblast. These developments underscore the systematic efforts by Russian forces to exert control over the population and suppress Ukrainian identity in occupied regions.

The Institute for the Study of War(ISW) has been closely monitoring the situation in occupied Ukraine and reporting on the human rights violations and breaches of international law committed by Russian occupation officials. The threat to take away newborns from their mothers represents a disturbing escalation in these abuses and a blatant violation of the Genocide Convention. As the international community continues to support Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, it is crucial to hold Russia accountable for its actions in the occupied territories.

Key Takeaways

• Russian occupation officials in Luhansk Oblast, Ukraine threaten to take away newborns from mothers without Russian citizenship.
• This policy violates the Genocide Convention and has far-reaching implications for human rights and international law.
• Russia aims to militarize and indoctrinate Ukrainian youth in occupied territories through education and propaganda.
• Children in occupied cities are being forced to participate in military-patriotic games and activities.
• The international community must hold Russia accountable for its actions in occupied Ukraine.