At least 2,442 Ukrainian children deported to Belarus since full-scale war began — Yale HRL

The Yale School of Public Health's Humanitarian Research Laboratory has found that at least 2,442 Ukrainian children between the ages of 6 and 17 have been deported to Belarus since Russia's full-scale war in Ukraine began.

The study was published on November 16. 

According to the researchers, from February 24, 2022, to October 30, 2023, these children were taken to at least 13 institutions in Belarus.

Children are transported from the occupied territories through Russia to Belarus. The Russian and Belarusian authorities coordinate these transports. 

Aliaksandr Lukashenka, Vladimir Putin, militants of the illegal armed groups "DPR" and "LPR", as well as the special services of Russia and Belarus, are directly involved in the deportation of Ukrainian children.

In addition, an important role in the deportation of Ukrainian children to Belarus was played by a member of the Belarusian national Paralympic team, Alexei Talai, and his foundation, Olga Volkova and her organisation Dolphins, and the Belaruskali company.

The authors of the investigation found that at least six groups of children were undergoing military training in Belarus, including at internal security bases. Between March 2022 and April 2023, at least three groups of children were taken to hospitals in Belarus for "treatment" and "rehabilitation. The number of children remaining in Belarus is unknown.