The SSU has collected evidence against another two Ukrainian citizens involved in the deportation of Ukrainian children to russia.

The investigators documented a forcible transfer to the temporarily occupied territory and further deportation to russia of 15 pupils of Novopetrivka Special School in Mykolaiv oblast, which was seized at that time (July 2022).

One of the perpetrators is the so-called deputy head of the occupation ‘department of youth and sports of Kherson region’. His accomplice is the ‘rector’ of an agricultural university in the temporarily occupied territory, appointed by the enemy.

To kidnap the children from the educational institution, 20 russian armed servicemen arrived at the school.

The ruscists took the school’s students, along with its director and her husband, and forcibly transported them to the then-occupied village of Stepanivka in Kherson region.

There, two pseudo-officials were waiting for the victims, who organized the transportation of the abducted children and two adults to a local river station.

Under the russian control, the group was then taken to the left bank of the region, and by bus – to Crimea.

From there, the students of the Ukrainian school were taken by train to the city of Anapa in Krasnodar krai, russia.

During the deported children’s stay in russia, representatives of the aggressor state forbade them to use Ukrainian and forced them to sing the russian anthem.

Eventually, with the support of international volunteer organizations, the young victims were taken to a third country to be returned home.

Based on the evidence collected, SSU investigators notified two representatives of russian occupation authorities of suspicion in absentia under Articles 28.2, 438.1 of the CCU (violation of laws and customs of war, committed by a group upon prior conspiracy).

As the suspects are in the temporarily occupied part of Ukraine, comprehensive efforts are underway to bring them to justice.

The investigation was carried out under the procedural supervision of juvenile prosecutors of the Prosecutor General’s Office.