Russia Intensifies Russification Efforts in Occupied Ukraine with Child Deportations and Biometric Passports

Forced Deportations and Russification of Ukrainian Children

Russian federal agencies are continuing programs that facilitate the deportation of Ukrainian children to Russia, exposing them to Russian culture, industry, and patriotic history. Thousands of Ukrainian children have been forcibly transferred and deported by the Russian Federation since 2014, with the United Nations asserting that these actions constitute war crimes.

Ukraine has identified over 19,500 children illegally transferred since February 2022, though fewer than 1,300 have reportedly been returned. These children are subjected to systematic Russification, militarization, and ideological indoctrination, which critics argue is an attempt to erase their Ukrainian identity. The International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants on March 17, 2023, for Russian President Vladimir Putin and Children's Rights Commissioner Maria Lvova-Belova, citing their alleged responsibility for the unlawful deportation and transfer of Ukrainian children.

The UN General Assembly recently passed a resolution on December 3, 2025, demanding Russia immediately and unconditionally return all Ukrainian children who have been forcibly transferred or deported. Russia has publicly acknowledged taking Ukrainian children, often framing these actions as 'humanitarian rescue' and facilitating their adoption by Russian families. Reports, such as one from the Yale Humanitarian Research Lab, have alleged that at least 6,000 children were sent to Russian 're-education' camps. International law, including Article 49 of the Fourth Geneva Convention, prohibits the forcible transfer and deportation of children, categorizing such acts as potential war crimes or genocidal acts under the Rome Statute.

Biometric Passportization in Donetsk Oblast

In occupied Donetsk Oblast, Russia has initiated the issuance of biometric passports to residents. This move is seen as a strategic effort by Russia to collect and maintain biometric data on residents, enabling potential surveillance and control. The 'DNR occupation Ministry of Foreign Affairs' announced on December 1 that it had commenced issuing these passports, with a four-year-old girl reportedly being the first recipient. These Russian biometric passports are equipped with a chip containing various biometric parameters, including fingerprints, height, weight, and voice signatures.

The process of 'passportization' has been ongoing since at least 2019, involving simplified procedures for obtaining Russian citizenship in occupied territories. Ukraine and the international community have condemned this practice as an illegal attempt to eradicate Ukrainian identity and a violation of Ukraine's sovereignty. Individuals who refuse to obtain a Russian passport reportedly face restrictions on their movement and difficulties in accessing public services, such as healthcare and education, provided by Russian-installed authorities.

Broader Russification and Integration Strategy

The Russian government has formally institutionalized the forced Russification and integration of occupied Ukrainian territories as a matter of state policy. Russian President Vladimir Putin approved a new decree, titled 'State National Policy Strategy of the Russian Federation Through 2036,' which outlines a long-term plan to reshape the national identity of residents in these regions. This strategy explicitly targets Crimea, Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson for intensive ethnic and civic assimilation.

The stated objective is for at least 95% of the population in these areas to identify with a 'Russian civic identity' by 2036. This comprehensive plan includes:

• Large-scale propaganda programs
• Efforts to eliminate Ukrainian national consciousness
• Strengthening the dominance of the Russian language
• Promotion of 'all-Russian events'

Human rights organizations contend that this decree merely formalizes practices already underway, such as forced passportization, the elimination of Ukrainian curricula, and the suppression of Ukrainian identity. Russia's overarching goal is to integrate these territories into its administrative, cultural, and ideological sphere, employing various 'Russification' strategies—bureaucratic, educational, symbolic, and ideological—often enforced through coercive means.