TALLINN, Estonia (AP) - Belarus' authoritarian president, Alexander Lukashenko, openly defied international outrage on Thursday as he attended a government-organized meeting with children brought from Russia-controlled areas of Ukraine. This move comes in spite of mounting criticism over his country's involvement in Moscow's deportation of Ukrainian children.

Speaking at the event which marked the arrival of a new group of Ukrainian children ahead of the New Year holiday, Lukashenko vowed to provide them with a nurturing environment. He stated, "We will embrace these children, bring them to our home, keep them warm, and make their childhood happier." Belarusian officials, however, refrained from disclosing the exact number of Ukrainian children brought into the country.

The involvement of Belarus in the illegal transfer of Ukrainian children has drawn the attention of the International Criminal Court (ICC), with the Belarusian opposition urging the court to hold Lukashenko and his officials accountable for their actions. Pavel Latushka, a former Belarusian culture minister turned opposition activist, presented evidence to the ICC implying Lukashenko's alleged involvement in the unlawful deportation of children. Latushka underlined the need for the ICC to investigate these crimes, emphasizing that a new group of children arriving from Russia-occupied territories only strengthens the case against Lukashenko.

The unlawful deportation of Ukrainian children has been a matter of concern for some time. A recent study conducted by Yale University found that over 2,400 Ukrainian children aged between 6 and 17 have been brought to Belarus from four Ukrainian regions that are partially occupied by Russian forces. This serves as further evidence of the systematic transfer of Ukrainian children, including orphans, facilitated by Lukashenko, his family members, and his associates working in conjunction with the Kremlin.

In March, the ICC issued arrest warrants for Russian President Vladimir Putin and his children's rights commissioner, Maria Lvova-Belova, over allegations of war crimes related to the unlawful deportation of children and their transfer from occupied areas of Ukraine to Russia. Moscow has firmly rejected these accusations.

Ukraine's human rights ombudsman, Dmytro Lubinets, commented on the matter, stating that the mass transfer of Ukrainian children to Belarus has helped Russia cover up information regarding the illegal deportation of children.

The International Red Cross recently decided to suspend the Belarusian chapter of the organization. This decision comes in response to the controversial remarks made by its chief, Dzmitry Shautsou, who boasted about actively facilitating the transportation of Ukrainian children from Russian-controlled areas to Belarus. Shautsou dismissed the criticism, calling the move "absolutely politicized" and claiming that the children who visited Belarus for "health improvement" returned home safely.

Belarus has maintained a close alliance with Moscow since the Russian invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022. Lukashenko allowed the Kremlin to use Belarusian territory to invade Ukraine, and there have been reports of Russia deploying tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus.

As the ICC's investigation progresses and international outrage continues to mount, the fate and well-being of the Ukrainian children involved in this transfer will remain a pressing concern for the international community.