DOCUMENTATION OF CRIMES AGAINST CHILDREN AT THE INITIAL STAGE OF THE FULL-SCALE WAR IN UKRAINE: THE ROLE OF MEDIA, HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS AND THE STATE

Abstract

The aim of this study is to analyze the role of contemporary media in documenting and disseminating information about crimes committed by Russian occupation authorities against Ukrainian children during the initial months of the full-scale war in Ukraine. Research methods. The article employs content analysis, comparative and structural-functional methods. Content analysis enables a detailed examination of media reports concerning crimes against children. The comparative method facilitates a juxtaposition of how Ukrainian and international media cover this issue, its magnitude, and the particularities of perception at both national and global levels. The structural-functional approach allows for determining what role various types of media (state-owned, independent, international) play in disseminating information about crimes against children, shaping public opinion, mobilizing international support, and preserving evidence. In combination, these methods provide an in-depth investigation of the subject – from the content of media reports to their impact on society, the international community, and the process of documenting crimes against Ukrainian children during the first stage of the full-scale war in Ukraine. The scholarly novelty of this work lies in its comprehensive analysis of the role of contemporary Ukrainian and international media in documenting crimesagainst children during the initial months of Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine. A systematization ofmedia publications and reports from February to April 2022 has been undertaken, containing documentaryevidence of war crimes against minors. The research clarifies the interrelationship between the informationalactivities of media, human rights organizations, and state structures in creating digital archives and international communication platforms designed to draw global attention to crimes against Ukrainian children. Thefindings expand scholarly understanding of the informational dimension of the war in Ukraine and identifymedia as a factor in shaping historical memory and international accountability for crimes against the civilian population. Conclusions. The informational activities of media, human rights organizations, and Ukrainian governmental structures in February–April 2022 became a pivotal instrument for documenting war crimesagainst children. These efforts contributed to mobilizing international support, drawing attention to the issueof unlawful deportation, and establishing digital archives of media testimony that now constitute a vital evidentiary foundation for international judicial proceedings and the formation of historical memory regarding crimes against Ukrainian children.