KYIV: A charity in Ukraine has announced the return of 31 children who were illegally taken to Russia from territories annexed by Moscow.
The children had been taken from the northeastern region of Kharkiv and the southern region of Kherson, according to Save Ukraine, which fights what it says are illegal deportations of Ukrainian children to Russian-controlled territory.
The charity’s head, Mykola Kuleba, praised the “heroic mothers” who travelled to retrieve their children in what he called the “most difficult” of the charity’s rescue missions to date.
The children and their relatives crossed the border into Kyiv-controlled territory on Friday, according to the charity.
Footage released on the same day showed the children, who carried suitcases and bags, crossing the border on foot before boarding a bus to continue their journey.
The charity claims that over 16,000 Ukrainian children have been deported to Russia since the invasion launched on February 24, 2022, with many allegedly placed in institutions and foster homes.
Russia has denied the allegations, saying instead that it has saved Ukrainian children from the horrors of the war.
Ukrainian children’s illegal deportation
However, the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin last month on the war crime accusation of unlawfully deporting Ukrainian children.
The court also issued a warrant against Maria Lvova-Belova, Russia’s presidential commissioner for children’s rights, on similar charges.
Save Ukraine has been working to rescue Ukrainian children who have been illegally taken to Russia since the start of the conflict.
The charity has called on the international community to do more to protect children affected by the conflict and to hold those responsible for their illegal deportation accountable for their actions.
With the return of these 31 children, Save Ukraine hopes to raise awareness of the ongoing issue and to bring hope to families who have been separated from their loved ones.
