U.S. Adds Russia To List Of Nations Engaged In Human Trafficking

Russia was added to the United States' "Trafficking in Persons Report" on July 19, which names countries that have a "policy or pattern" of human trafficking and forced labor, or whose military or sponsored forces recruit or utilize child soldiers.

Photo Insert: Dmytro Lubinets, the Ukrainian Ombudsman, claims that Russia forcibly deported 108 Ukrainian children from Donetsk Oblast and placed them for adoption.

“Millions of Ukrainians have had to flee their homes,” said US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. “That makes them highly vulnerable to exploitation,” Kyiv Independent reported on July 20, 2022.

Dmytro Lubinets, the Ukrainian Ombudsman, claims that Russia forcibly deported 108 Ukrainian children from Donetsk Oblast and placed them for adoption. Lubinets stated that youngsters aged 5 to 16 are being placed with foster parents across Russia.

According to Lubinets, the children have been granted Russian citizenship in order to expedite the procedure.

According to Swedish television channel SVT, a 28-year-old Swedish volunteer was killed after being wounded in the chest by a grenade in Donetsk Oblast. The soldier had previously served as a lieutenant in the Swedish Air Force and had landed in Ukraine as part of the International Legion.

Serhiy Borzov, the governor of Vinnytsia Oblast, also announced that a lady died in a hospital from injuries sustained during the Russian attack on Vinnytsia, bringing the total death toll to 25.

At least 54 individuals were hurt in the incident, with eight of them in critical condition. On July 14, a Russian missile strike hit downtown Vinnytsia. "What is this, if not an open act of terrorism?" asked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky following the attack.

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