In a disturbing revelation that’s sparking global outrage, a Ukrainian NGO has exposed what it calls a modern-day “slave catalog”—but instead of adults, it’s allegedly filled with Ukrainian children abducted during the war, and now listed online by Russian authorities for potential adoption.
Children Displayed with Photos, Eye Color, and “Traits”
The online database, reportedly hosted by the education department in the Russian-occupied Luhansk region, includes the profiles of 294 Ukrainian children.
These aren’t just anonymous records—they come complete with photos, ages, genders, and even descriptions of their personality, like being “calm” or “obedient.”
Worse still, the platform allows users to filter these children by hair color, eye color, age, and even what type of guardianship they want—be it adoption or foster care.
Ukrainian NGO Calls It What It Is: Child Trafficking
The grim discovery was brought to light by Mykola Kuleba, head of the Ukrainian non-profit Save Ukraine, in an emotional Instagram post. Kuleba didn’t hold back, writing:
“The way they describe our children is indistinguishable from a slave catalog.
This is child trafficking in the 21st century, and the world must act to stop it immediately.”
He emphasized that many of the children listed were born in Luhansk before the Russian occupation.
Some have lost their parents, who were reportedly killed by Russian forces.
Others, Kuleba says, have simply been given Russian identity documents to erase their Ukrainian origin.
Thousands of Abducted Children, Few Have Returned
So far, Ukrainian officials have confirmed nearly 20,000 abductions, but many believe the true number is much higher.
Estimates vary—some officials say it could be as high as 150,000, while others suggest the number might be between 200,000 and 300,000.
Tragically, fewer than 1,500 children have made it back home.
Deportations Have Been Ongoing Since 2014
This isn’t a new issue. Since Russia began occupying parts of Ukraine in 2014, including Crimea and Donetsk, many Ukrainian children have reportedly been systematically deported and placed with Russian families—some as far away as Moscow or deep into the Russian mainland.
ICC Holds Putin Personally Responsible
The global community has taken notice. In 2023, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for Vladimir Putin and Maria Lvova-Belova, Russia’s commissioner for children’s rights.
Both were charged with unlawfully deporting Ukrainian children and transferring them to Russian families.
The ICC accused Putin of having individual criminal responsibility for these actions, beginning as early as February 2022.
Russia Denies Allegations and Dismisses ICC
Unsurprisingly, the Russian Foreign Ministry brushed off the ICC’s charges, claiming that the international court’s decisions are “legally meaningless” to them.
Russia has not recognized the ICC since it formally withdrew in 2016, shortly after being condemned for annexing Crimea.
What Happens Now?
The discovery of this online database is fueling renewed calls for international pressure and stronger action against Russia’s child relocation efforts.
Human rights organizations and foreign governments are expected to respond more strongly as the evidence continues to pile up.
