Charges Filed Against Former DNR Minister for Child Deportation

What Happened

On April 11, 2026, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) announced that it, along with the Office of the Prosecutor General, has issued charges against several individuals for the illegal deportation of 35 Ukrainian children from the Donetsk region to Russia. The accused include Mikhail Kushakov, the former 'Minister of Education and Science' of the DNR, and other key figures involved in the operation.

Key Details

The investigation revealed that on February 18, 2022, Kushakov and two accomplices, acting under Kremlin orders, organized the illegal transport of 35 children from a preschool facility in Donetsk, specifically the 'Teremok' nursery. The children, aged between four and six years, were taken to the Rostov Oblast in Russia.

They were subsequently placed in various social institutions across the aggressor state. Among the individuals charged are Alexey Kulemzin, the head of the occupied city administration, and Raisa Prilipko, the director of the seized children’s home.

The charges include violations of Article 49 of the Fourth Geneva Convention, which prohibits forced transfer or deportation of protected persons from occupied territories to the occupying state. This serious breach has drawn significant condemnation due to its implications for international law and children's rights.

According to the SBU, the actions of these individuals constitute war crimes carried out in conspiracy, under articles stipulating aggravated responsibility for committing such crimes. The Ukrainian authorities are currently unable to apprehend the suspects, who are reportedly hiding in Russia or the temporarily occupied parts of Ukraine.

Why It Matters

This case illustrates the continued illegal actions against civilians in the ongoing conflict and the severe ramifications for Ukrainian children. The forced deportation of minors raises urgent humanitarian concerns and calls for accountability at the international level.

Background

The case of these 35 children is not isolated; last year, Kushakov and four others faced similar charges related to the unlawful deportation of over 350 children from Donetsk's orphanages to Russia. These actions have sparked widespread outrage and highlight the broader issue of child rights violations amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.