Ukraine Calls for Faster Repatriation of Children Deported by Russia

Human rights ombudsman hopes new coalition will expedite return of over 19,000 children amid ongoing deportations.

Ukraine's human rights ombudsman, Dmytro Lubinets, has called for a faster mechanism to repatriate over 19,000 Ukrainian children illegally deported by Russia.
The International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued arrest warrants for Russian President Vladimir Putin and his envoy for children's rights, Maria Lvova-Belova, for war crimes, including the illegal deportation of children.
Russia has dismissed the ICC's jurisdiction, but Ukraine views the warrants as a major breakthrough.
Despite the warrants, Russia continues to deport Ukrainian children, now also via Belarus, and only returns children whose identities and locations have been verified by Ukrainian officials.
Lubinets has voiced hope that the newly formed National Coalition of Countries for the Return of Ukrainian Children will find concrete mechanisms to expedite the return of the children.