A recent report from the Humanitarian Research Lab at Yale University has implicated major Russian energy companies, Gazprom and Rosneft, in the transportation and indoctrination of thousands of Ukrainian children. Released on March 25, the report details the involvement of these corporations in the relocation and possible re-education of at least 2,158 children from Russian-occupied territories in Ukraine between 2022 and 2025.
The report identifies six camps located in Russia and in territories occupied by Russia, where children were taken. Notably, some of these facilities are affiliated with subsidiaries of Gazprom. The researchers assert that these actions are part of a broader, systematic campaign.
According to the findings, children from the Donetsk, Luhansk, and Zaporizhzhia regions of Ukraine were moved to camps where they encountered pro-Russian ideologies. In certain instances, activities described as “patriotic education” included militarized programming.
The report indicates that Gazprom’s subsidiaries and associated labor unions played a role in organizing transportation, issuing vouchers for camps, and facilitating activities labeled as “re-education,” which involved promoting pro-Russian narratives and diminishing Ukrainian identity.
Researchers identified 44 organizations involved in this initiative, with approximately 80% currently not subject to U.S. or European sanctions. A related analysis from Stanford University warns that recent sanctions relief in the U.S. could allow these companies to continue generating revenue.
Ruth Gibson, a researcher involved in the study, emphasized the implications of U.S. foreign policy, stating, “This is significant because American foreign policy… puts dollars directly into the pockets of two Russian companies involved in the forced relocation and re-education of Ukrainian children.”
The Yale report also notes that a temporary permit from the U.S. Treasury Department allowing certain Russian oil shipments could potentially benefit Gazprom and Rosneft, despite existing sanctions.
In response to inquiries about the methodology, lead researcher Paige Farrenkopf clarified that the conclusions are based entirely on publicly available information, highlighting that subsidiaries of these companies have explicitly claimed involvement in the transportation and re-education of Ukrainian children.
Nathaniel Raymond, executive director of the research center, stated that the findings have been communicated to U.S. officials. “We have reported the findings to both chambers of Congress and the Trump administration,” he said, adding that the State Department has been informed of the initial conclusions.
The report suggests that the participation of large state-owned Russian corporations and their subsidiaries indicates coordinated efforts that extend beyond government agencies. “This report demonstrates… that the campaign… is a cohesive governmental approach… involving Russian private companies,” Raymond remarked.
The findings build upon previous investigations into the deportation of Ukrainian children, which have led to the International Criminal Court issuing arrest warrants for Russian President Vladimir Putin and Maria Lvova-Belova, Russia’s commissioner for children’s rights. The Yale researchers assert that this report is the first to provide detailed evidence linking major Russian corporations and their subsidiaries to the campaign of deporting Ukrainian children.
A Yale University report reveals the involvement of Gazprom and Rosneft in the relocation and indoctrination of Ukrainian children from occupied territories. The findings suggest a coordinated effort involving private companies in a broader campaign of re-education and ideological influence.