Russian propaganda continues to spread false information about Ukraine supposedly “selling children from Donbas”. To create these fakes, individuals who have betrayed Ukraine are used, such as a former SBU employee, as well as representatives of the occupying authorities of the so called DPR, including the so called children’s ombudswoman. According to their statements, Ukraine allegedly kidnaps children from families in Donbas and "sells them abroad, to pedophiles, or for organs". However, this is not true.

This was reported by the Center for Countering Disinformation at the National Security and Defense Council. Its experts found that this message is a classic example of Russian disinformation aimed at diverting attention from its own crimes. In fact, it is Russia that is systematically deporting Ukrainian children from the temporarily occupied territories, as evidenced by numerous investigations. The International Criminal Court even issued arrest warrants for Putin and the Russian Ombudsman Lvova-Belova for these crimes. Fakes about Ukraine are created to discredit its image and manipulate the international community. This is yet another attempt to justify Russia’s actions by shifting the blame onto the victim of aggression.

Russian propagandists also spread disinformation about Ukraine allegedly “selling children from Donbas” to create a false impression of Ukraine as an inhuman state and to discredit its international reputation.