"Putin's Citizenship Decrees for Foreign Fighters and Ukrainian Children Spark Controversy"

Ukraine has criticized a new decree by Russian President Vladimir Putin that expedites Russian citizenship for Ukrainian children who have been moved to Russia, labeling it a violation of children's rights and international law. The decree is seen as part of Russia's forced assimilation policy and an attempt to address its demographic issues. Over 19,000 Ukrainian children have been deported to Russia since February 2022, with only 387 returned. The International Criminal Court has previously issued an arrest warrant for Putin, accusing him of war crimes related to the unlawful deportation of Ukrainian children.