The State Department on Wednesday welcomed the United Nations General Assembly's decision to update its resolution condemning human rights abuses in Ukraine and highlight the “heinous crimes” of Russia's forced relocation of children since the start of the full-scale invasion.
“[The resolution] “Condemn Russia’s serious human rights violations, call for an end to forced deportations and to ensure the safe return of all abducted Ukrainian children and civilian hostages,” Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said.
“This is one of the most heinous crimes and must be stopped.”
Earlier this week, three more Ukrainian children were returned home from the Russian-occupied territories of Ukraine and from Russia with Qatar's mediation.
This brings the total number of repatriated abducted children to 387.
But as Christmas approaches, thousands of Ukrainian families are still waiting for news about the fate of their loved ones. Still others will spend the holidays in mourning after receiving the worst news.
Of the approximately 20,000 children abducted by Russia, more than 500 have been confirmed dead.
Arina Yatsiuk PHOTO: Facebook Oksana Yatsiuk
One of the most shocking stories was that of 15-year-old Arina Yatsiuk, who was separated from her younger sister by Russian soldiers for “treatment” on March 3, 2022, and whose body was only found in October.
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Arina Yatsiuk PHOTO: CNN
For almost two years, her grandparents worried about her whereabouts, but held out hope that she was still alive. (Their parents were killed that March day when they were confronted by Russian troops on the Zhitomir Highway.)
Arina Yatsiuk with sister Valery. PHOTO: Facebook Anna Yatsiuk
The grandparents' hopes were dashed when it was revealed that their granddaughter's body had turned up in a mortuary in Mozyr, Belarus.
Her relatives retrieved the body and buried it in Uman, in the Cherasky region, next to her parents' grave.
Parents of Arina Yatsiuk, Anna and Dennis Yatsiuk. PHOTO: Facebook Ksenia Yatsiuk
At the end of November, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe announced that it had set up a special committee on violations of the rights of Ukrainian children by Russians.