Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said recently that over 500 children have been killed in Ukraine since Russia's invasion 15 months ago.
“13-year-old Dmytro from Kharkiv, 4-year-old Lisa from Vinnytsia, Serhii from Novosolone who was just 2 days old," Zelensky said in a Twitter thread. "They are among five hundred innocent children whose lives were destroyed by Russia’s onslaught."
\u201c13-year-old Dmytro from Kharkiv, 4-year-old Lisa from Vinnytsia, Serhii from Novosolone who was just 2 days old. They are among five hundred innocent children whose lives were destroyed by Russia's onslaught.\n\nMany of them could have become famous scholars, artists, sports\u2026\u201d— \u0412\u043e\u043b\u043e\u0434\u0438\u043c\u0438\u0440 \u0417\u0435\u043b\u0435\u043d\u0441\u044c\u043a\u0438\u0439 (@\u0412\u043e\u043b\u043e\u0434\u0438\u043c\u0438\u0440 \u0417\u0435\u043b\u0435\u043d\u0441\u044c\u043a\u0438\u0439) 1685865361
The president also shared a video from United24, a Ukraine-focused digital media company, which documents some of the horrific deaths and injuries among children. In the case of Serhii, the video explains that the infant was killed after the Russian military shelled a maternity ward.
“Many of them could have become famous scholars, artists, sports champions, contributing to Ukraine’s history," Zelensky continued. "They fell victim to the enemy’s missiles and hate, which keep ravaging and claiming lives of young Ukrainians."
The Ukrainian leader noted that "it is still impossible to establish the exact number of injured children due to active hostilities and the temporary occupation of a part of the Ukrainian territory."
This also does not include abductions -- over 6,000 children are known to have been “systematically relocated” to Russian territories and undergone “re-education efforts," according to a report released in February. The study, which implicated "all levels of Russia's government," also noted that "the total number of children is not known and is likely significantly higher than 6,000."
The United Nations has documented several “cases in which children have been raped, tortured, and unlawfully confined." Many have also "been killed and injured in indiscriminate attacks with explosive weapons."
The International Criminal Court recently issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin, as well as Moscow’s commissioner of children’s rights, for their roles in overseeing the forceful deportation of Ukrainian children, which is considered a war crime.
"We must hold out and win this war!" Zelensky concluded. "All of Ukraine, all our people, all our children must be free from the Russian terror!"
