The European Court of Human Rights has begun proceedings to examine the status of ten children who disappeared from childcare facilities in Crimea after the region was annexed by Russia. According to testimony presented to the court, the children, who were between the ages of one and five at the time, were removed from their institutions and subsequently placed for adoption.

Legal representatives and human rights advocates argue that these actions constitute a violation of international law and the rights of the children and their families. The proceedings aim to determine the circumstances surrounding the removal of these minors and the legal basis for their adoption process under the current administration in Crimea. While the court is currently hearing evidence regarding these specific cases, the broader context involves ongoing international disputes over the status of the territory and the treatment of its residents since 2014. The Russian government has historically maintained that its actions in Crimea are legal and consistent with the will of the local population, though it has not provided a detailed public response to these specific allegations of child displacement in the current court session.