%D 2024
%O This version is the author accepted manuscript. For information on re-use, please refer to the publisher’s terms and conditions.
%A Yulia Ioffe
%J German Yearbook of International Law
%L discovery10189027
%T Forcible Transfers of Ukrainian Children: Indoctrination as a Tool of Russia’s Imperialism
%K Children, Ukraine, Forcible Transfer, Russia's imperialism, colonialism, indoctrination, deportation, genocide
%X In the wake of Russia's aggression against Ukraine, reports have surfaced, indicating the
systematic and widespread forcible transfers of Ukrainian children from temporarily occupied
territories to Russia. Mounting evidence suggests Russia's efforts to indoctrinate these
children and erode their national identity are reminiscent of historical colonial practices.
Although not unique to Russia, forcible child transfers have historical precedents globally.
Understanding this history is essential for comprehensively addressing genocide, particularly,
as defined in Article II (e) of the Genocide Convention. This article explores the
classification of forcible child transfers as a form of genocide, with a focus on the Ukrainian
context. Examining the impact of colonial powers on the drafting of the Genocide
Convention, this article sheds light on the limitations of international law, particularly the law
of genocide, which hinders the legal challenge of colonial violence within its framework. It
analyses the challenges in establishing genocidal intent for forcible transfer of children and
the role of indoctrination in facilitating the biological absorption of one group into another.
Additionally, it provides a historical overview of Russia's colonial practices, drawing parallel
with present-day transfers. The article concludes by examining the ongoing forcible transfers
of Ukrainian children to Russia, highlighting Russia's policies on re-education and military
training as tools to dissolve the national Ukrainian identity and absorb Ukrainian children
into the Russian population.