Vereshchuk names number of Ukrainian orphans removed to Russia

Russian invaders have illegally taken 2,161 Ukrainian orphans to Russia. This was stated by the Minister for Reintegration of the Temporarily Occupied Territories of Ukraine Iryna Vereshchuk in an interview with Ukrainian Radio.

When we talk about Russia, only Ukrainian orphans - the ones we have in the register - 2,161 children were illegally removed," Vereshchuk said.

At the same time, ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets believes that the number of Ukrainian children illegally exported to Russia, including those deported together with their parents, may reach 150,000.

He pointed out that there were 16,207 children officially verified by Ukraine on the territory of the aggressor state.

It is known that Russia cites the figure of 733,000 Ukrainian children whom it keeps on its territory.

According to the Conflict Observatory report, the Russians are sending Ukrainian children "for re-education" - children are being implanted with "Russian-centric academic, cultural and patriotic" information".

It is known that in at least two camps - in Crimea and Chechnya - Ukrainian children are taught how to handle firearms and military equipment.