Seven Ukrainian children reunited with families, Russian official says

Seven Ukrainian children have been reunited with their families, according to Maria Lvova-Belova, the Russian Federation’s Presidential Commissioner for Children’s Rights.

In a statement posted on her Telegram channel, she said the return involved “six boys and one girl," Caliber.Az reports. 

“We are continuing our work to reunite children with their families in Russia, Ukraine, and third countries. Seven children are reuniting with their families in Ukraine — six boys and one girl,” Lvova-Belova wrote.

She also expressed gratitude to US First Lady Melania Trump, noting her involvement in efforts to facilitate the return of Ukrainian children.

In October, the first lady said she had established an open line of communication with Russian President Vladimir Putin, adding that some children had already been returned with more expected to follow.

Ukraine accuses Russia of abducting at least 19,000 children and transferring them to Russia or Russian-occupied territories without the consent of families or guardians following the full-scale invasion in February 2022. Russia denies the allegations, insisting it relocated children for their safety.

The United States joined dozens of countries at the United Nations General Assembly on December 3 in voting for a resolution demanding that Russia “immediately, safely and unconditionally” return all Ukrainian children who were forcibly transferred.

Ukraine’s foreign ministry welcomed the resolution, saying on December 4 that only 1,850 children have been returned so far. It urged the international community to maintain pressure on Moscow.

In March 2023, the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for President Vladimir Putin, accusing him of the war crime of illegal deportation of Ukrainian children. Russia dismissed the warrant as “outrageous and unacceptable.”

By Sabina Mammadli