More than a year into Russia’s brutal war against Ukraine, and the human toll continues to mount. The alleged abduction of thousands of Ukrainian children by Russians is one of the deepest injuries.

Now, the International Criminal Court, an independent tribunal based in The Hague, is ready to seek arrest warrants against the Russians they believe are responsible for taking those children from their families and country – and for purposely destroying Ukraine’s infrastructure.

But making the arrests, and ultimately seeking justice, won’t be easy.

Stefan Schmitt of Florida International University has helped secure forensic evidence in war-torn countries. This week, he provides an update on the challenges that lie ahead of the ICC. Schmitt explains that proving the children were abducted may be more challenging than for other war crimes.

“It surprises me that arrest warrants would be issued for the abduction of Ukrainian children. In order to successfully prosecute this crime, investigators will need to show that not only did the alleged abductors take the children against their will, but that they also did not intend to return the children to their legal guardians,” he writes.

What’s more, even if the abductors are prosecuted, there’s no guarantee the children will be reunited with their families soon or ever because the ICC is not charged with investigating the fate of victims of war crimes.

“This will take a separate effort, decades of work and cost a large amount of money, requiring the support of rich countries.”