“Now I Know What It Means to Be a Donbas Child’s Mother” Ukrainian, Western and Russian Media Representations of the ICC’s Arrest Warrant Against Maria Lvova-Belova and Vladimir Putin

Abstract

This article analyses media representations of Maria Lvova-Belova, Russia’s Commissioner for Children’s Rights, in light of the ICC arrest warrant issued for her and Vladimir Putin over the unlawful deportation of Ukrainian children. Using discourse analysis across Ukrainian, Russian, and selected Western (UK/US) media, it examines how gendered narratives shape understandings of female agency, political violence, and motherhood.

Drawing on feminist and poststructuralist theories, the article explores how Lvova-Belova is framed differently across contexts: Ukrainian media depict her as a key perpetrator of a genocidal campaign, emphasizing her autonomy and casting her as a monstrous mother. Western outlets often downplay her role, portraying her as subordinate to Putin. Russian state media, meanwhile, presents her as a humanitarian saving orphaned children.

These gendered framings reflect broader ideological divides and serve political ends. The article highlights how femininity and motherhood are strategically deployed to construct narratives of blame, innocence, or legitimacy during war.