A recent Yale University study has accused Russia’s largest energy corporations, Rosneft and Gazprom, of playing key roles in operating facilities where over 2,000 Ukrainian children were held, according to research published last week.
The investigation by Yale School of Public Health’s Humanitarian Research Lab claims these state-owned companies provided financial backing and transportation assistance for camps located in Russian-controlled Ukrainian territory and within Russia itself during 2022-2025.
According to the study, the research represents the first “definitive public proof of these companies’ critical involvement in Russia’s systematic campaign of child deportation and indoctrination.” The findings indicate approximately 2,158 children were brought to these facilities, where they received pro-Russian instruction.
Yale researchers compiled their conclusions through examination of public declarations, authenticated social media content, and corporate documentation. Reuters was unable to verify the study’s claims independently.
Both Russian diplomatic officials and Ukrainian government representatives declined to provide statements when contacted.
When asked about the report’s allegations, Gazprom responded: “Gazprom owns several health resorts in Russia and Russian children spend summer vacations there.”
Moscow has repeatedly rejected accusations of forced child removal, maintaining that minors were relocated for humanitarian protection. Russian officials have characterized previous Yale investigations as anti-Russian propaganda.
Legal representatives for Rosneft disputed the findings in correspondence with Reuters, stating the study “failed to find any evidence of participation in illegal activity by the company.”
“In essence, the report purports to attribute participation in war crimes to Rosneft without any evidence. Rosneft categorically denies directing, controlling, or participating in any of the alleged conduct,” the lawyers wrote.
The Yale report details how at least 1,072 children from Russian-occupied Ukrainian areas received camp vouchers through Gazprom subsidiary organizations and associated trade unions during 2022 and 2023.
Additionally, the study claims Rosneft’s Interregional Trade Union sponsored 100 Ukrainian children to attend three facilities in 2022. The trade union did not respond to comment requests.
Rosneft’s legal team emphasized that the trade union operates as an independent entity under Russian law, arguing Yale provided no proof that Rosneft “directed, controlled, authorised or even knew” about the union’s alleged activities.
However, Michael McFaul, a Stanford international affairs professor and former U.S. ambassador to Russia (2012-2014), rejected claims of union independence.
“Rosneft is an arm of the Russian government … Tragically, Putin’s dictatorship no longer allows independent trade unions,” said McFaul, who previously served as Senior Director for Russian and Eurasian Affairs on the National Security Council from 2009 to 2012.
The research emerges as the United States recently announced temporary sanctions relief on Russian crude oil and petroleum product sales in March, responding to price increases following conflict in Iran.
A bipartisan group of 12 Congressional members has referenced Yale’s findings in demanding renewed sanctions against Gazprom and Rosneft, which were also included in the sanctions waiver.
Ohio Representative Greg Landsman drafted correspondence citing “the recent revelation of their direct involvement in Russia’s abduction of over 35,000 children from Ukraine is cause for significant alarm.”
The letter, scheduled for delivery to Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Friday, requests sanctions against 35 additional entities identified by Yale. It notes the 30-day Russian oil sales waiver will generate approximately $12 billion in revenue for the two Russian corporations.
International law considers forced deportation and transfer of children from occupied territories to occupying powers or other nations a war crime, regardless of justification. Ukraine has classified these actions as crimes against humanity.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and children’s rights commissioner Maria Lvova-Belova face war crimes accusations for illegal Ukrainian child transfers.
The International Criminal Court has issued arrest warrants for both Putin and Lvova-Belova regarding their alleged involvement in wartime atrocities following Russia’s 2022 Ukraine invasion.
ICC Prosecutor’s Office representatives did not directly address Yale’s report assertions but confirmed continued receipt of child deportation reports and authority to expand cases with new suspects “should the evidence meet the required standards.”
Russia has dismissed the court’s accusations.
“As far as the ICC’s accusations are concerned, we don’t understand what we are accused of,” Lvova-Belova stated during an April 2023 news conference. “Give us the facts and we will look into it. So far, it all looks like a farce without specifics and is incomprehensible.”
This latest Yale research follows September findings that Russia had expanded its network of facilities for military instruction, drone production, and forced re-education of Ukrainian children to at least 210 locations.
According to Yale, Ukrainian children were transported to a minimum of six camps in Russia and Russian-occupied Crimea, including three facilities owned by Gazprom subsidiaries as recently as 2025.
