politics

Zelenskyy alleges Russia is abducting Ukrainian kids and training them to fight

Updated on: May 31, 2026 / 3:24 PM EDT / CBS News

Zelenskyy alleges Russia is abducting Ukrainian kids and training them to fight

TL;DR

  • President Zelenskyy claims Russia is abducting Ukrainian children and training them to fight against Ukraine.
  • This alleged practice may constitute a war crime according to the International Criminal Court (ICC).
  • Ukraine has evidence of children being subjected to reeducation or 'Russification' programs.
  • The ICC issued an arrest warrant for Vladimir Putin over the 'unlawful deportation of population (children)'.
  • Zelenskyy stated Ukraine has documented at least 20,000 abducted children.
  • He expressed hope for stricter U.S. sanctions on Russia in response to the alleged child abduction scheme.
  • A Yale report indicated Russian state-owned companies helped underwrite the reeducation of over 2,000 Ukrainian children.
  • Zelenskyy believes temporary U.S. sanctions relief on Russian oil sales could be inadvertently fueling the abduction program.