Russia has been subjecting 314 children to its system of coerced adoption and fostering, according to the investigation released by Yale School of Public Health’s Humanitarian Research Lab (HRL) Tuesday.

The HRL began documenting potential violations of international law by Russia in Ukraine as part of an initiative led by the US Department of State in 2022. The HRL revealed that more than half of those children have been placed directly with Russian citizens, while the rest have been listed on Russia’s child placement databases. The databases are closely tied to Russia’s federal government, and the HRL alleges this program is directed by President Vladimir Putin and Russia Presidential Commissioner for Children’s Rights Maria Lvova-Belova.

Since Russia’s illegal invasion and annexation of portions of Ukraine, HRL alleges that military forces have transported groups of children from Ukraine into Russia for placement with Russian citizens. Some children were separated from their siblings when being placed. These children are also being subjected to “pro-Russia re-education,” according to the report.

Both Putin and Lvova-Belova had warrants issued against them by the International Criminal Court (ICC) in 2023 for the deportation of Ukrainian children. Researchers of the report noted, however, that the findings may constitute “a distinct and separate crime of transfer of protected persons from one national or ethnic group to another,” as well as amount to war crimes or crimes against humanity under the Rome Statute or violations of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. In tandem with other evidence, researchers indicate it may even support a case of genocide.

In related news, Amnesty International has condemned Russia for “unlawfully indoctrinating Ukrainian children” by coercing teachers to teach the Russian curriculum in schools in the occupied territories in October of this year.