Russian propaganda in Europe: ‘Ukrainian child trafficking managed by Ukraine’s First Lady’

Russian propaganda has launched a new disinformation campaign in Europe, particularly in the Czech Republic, alleging that 50,000 children under the care of the Olena Zelenska’s Foundation, have disappeared. 

As part of our collaborative research with Espreso Global on Russian disinformation in European media, we have identified Czech outlets that have been disseminating pro-Kremlin narratives in the latest study and revealed their favorite topics.

The false claims spread by pro-Kremlin media in the Czech Republic suggest the children were sold to pedophiles and for organ transplants in the West.

A Czech portal Protiproud.info known for spreading Russian disinformation campaigns published an article with the headline “Zelensky’s Wife Accused of Child Trafficking: Allegations of Supplying Children to Pedophiles and for Organ Transplants. 50,000 Children Reportedly Missing Under Zelensky’s Care. Accusations Include Selling Entire Orphanages.”

• https://protiproud.info/politika/8003-manzelka-zelenskeho-obchoduje-s-detmi-jak-jinak-nez-skrze-neziskovky-dodavky-pedofilum-a-na-organy-k-transplantaci-peci-zelenske-zmizelo-jiz-na-50-000-deti-prodavaji-cele-detske-domovy-a-maji-na-zapade-imunitu.htm

Fake about trafficking children to pedophiles and organ harvesting

Kremlin-style fake news claimed that the Olena Zelenska’s Foundation was allegedly exposed by Western human rights activists for trafficking children to pedophiles and supplying organs to clinics.

Allegedly, these children were falsely told their parents had abandoned them and purportedly evacuated from Ukraine’s government-controlled territories in the Donetsk region to the Zakarpattia region. The propaganda further claims that once in Europe, Ukrainian children were either used as organ donors or sold to pedophiles.

This topic in Russian propaganda campaigns is not new. Pro-Russian outlets and social accounts have previously spread fake news about organ and child trafficking in relation to Russia’s war. Since 2014, Russian fake reports have circulated about the trafficking of Ukrainian organs abroad.

Debunking of the fake spread by pro-Russian outlets

The article mentions investigations by media outlets and organizations like the BBC and USAID as evidence, but without providing direct references or links to confirm the scale of child trafficking from Ukraine. 

In fact, the Russian military forcibly removed almost 20,000 Ukrainian children from the occupied Ukrainian regions and placed them in foster families against their will in Russia. Ukraine has officially confirmed the deportation of these 20,000 children to Russia.

International organizations have repeatedly confirmed Russia’s abduction of Ukrainian children. On March 17, 2023, the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Maria Lvova-Belova, the Russian Presidential Commissioner for Children’s Rights, and Putin for war crimes related to the abduction of Ukrainian children.

Russia is manipulating the topic of the forced evacuation of children. The Ukrainian government approved a plan that only allows one of their parents, a legal guardian, or another authorized representative to accompany children from areas of active hostilities during their evacuation. The Russian claims of child trafficking under the pretext of “evacuation” lack evidence and are thus considered fake news.