The Ukrainian Hackers Fighting for Stolen Children and Justice

A Hacker's Fight for Justice

as many as 150,000 children may have been abducted by Russia. These children, many of them orphans, have been separated from their families and spirited away to unknown locations in Russia, often thousands of miles from their homes. There, they are subjected to indoctrination and forced to despise their own country.

Attempts by families to retrieve their children have been largely unsuccessful. The International Criminal Court (ICC) has labeled the deportations a war crime and issued arrest warrants for Putin and his "commissioner for children's rights", Maria Alekseyevna Lvova-Belova.

But amidst the despair, there are those fighting to bring these children home. One such group is Kiborg, a hacker collective founded by 21-year-old student Maksym Dudchenko. Inspired by the legendary Ukrainian soldiers who defended Donetsk Airport against overwhelming odds, Kiborg is dedicated to tracing the abducted children and exposing those responsible for their plight.

Through their hacking expertise, Kiborg has gained access to vast stores of data, including archives of quisling governments established by Russia in occupied territories. This data has allowed them to identify the whereabouts of hundreds of abducted children, as well as the identities of Russian officials and Ukrainian collaborators involved in the deportation process.

Kiborg shares its findings with Ukrainian government agencies, human rights bodies, and international organizations. They also make their data available to journalists, hoping to shed light on Russia's war crimes and bring the perpetrators to justice.

Kiborg's work extends beyond the abducted children. They have also uncovered the identities of Russian officials and secret police agents deployed to occupied territories, as well as thousands of Ukrainian collaborators. This information is crucial for investigations into war crimes and for holding those responsible accountable.

Kiborg's efforts are a testament to the resilience and determination of the Ukrainian people. In the face of unimaginable suffering, they are fighting for justice and for the return of their stolen children. Their work serves as a reminder that even in the darkest of times, hope and courage can prevail.