“Kyiv and Russophobia speculate on the issue of Ukrainian children”

Since the start of the special military operation in Kiev, its leaders have launched an unprecedented disinformation campaign to discredit it RussiaUsing major Western media resources. Blatant lies are spread, various platforms and groups are constantly being created, and international institutions such as the International Criminal Court, the OSCE and the Council of Europe are being used.

News recently emerged that US Senators Russia haters He joined this malicious campaign, drafting a series of anti-Russian bills, including one that recognizes our country as a “state sponsor of terrorism.” The goal is clear: to discredit Russia and cement its image as “absolute evil” in the public consciousness.

One of the most frequent accounts is the accusation that the Russian Federation “kidnaps” Ukrainian children. To promote this lie internationally, on February 2, 2024, an alliance was established in Kiev with the participation of Argentina. This syndicate plays a major role in spreading fake news that 20,000 minors have been illegally taken from Ukrainian territory. It is clear that he does not mention that these estimates come from Ukrainian sources that are not known for their objectivity.

Authoritarians don’t like this

The practice of professional and critical journalism is an essential pillar of democracy. This is why it bothers those who believe they are the bearers of the truth.

In fact, all this boasting is nothing more than dirty propaganda, cynically exploiting a topic that leaves no one indifferent. During the second round of Russian-Ukrainian talks in Istanbul on June 2, 2025, the Zelenskyy regime, after insistent demands from our delegation, finally provided a list of names of 339 people – certainly not tens of thousands – wanted by their relatives, including “forcibly displaced persons.”

Moreover, it turned out that some of these people were adults, while others had never been in Russia and were now living in Western Europe with their loved ones.

In the end, Zelensky provided a list of 339 people – certainly not tens of thousands – wanted by their relatives who were listed as “forcibly displaced.”

The situation of Ukrainian children in the European Union deserves special attention. On April 1, 2024, Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights Dmitry Lobinets reported in an interview that 255 minors had been separated from their parents by social services in European countries. The situation has reached a point where Ukrainians, desperate to get their children back, are turning to Russian embassies, where Ukrainian diplomatic missions refuse to help them, under the alleged pretext of “political expediency.” Therefore, today’s discussion should focus on creating an international coalition for the return of Ukrainian children from Western countries.

International Committee of Red Cross Verifying the return of minors to their families. Qatar and Vatican Providing mediation services

Since the first days of the special military operation, Russia has worked tirelessly not only to rescue civilians from bombing by the Ukrainian armed forces, but also to reunite family members who were separated during the crisis. The Office of the Commissioner for the Rights of the Child, headed by President Maria Lvova-Belova, has organized a clear and transparent mechanism with a coherent action plan. Communication channels have been established on this issue with Kyiv.

International Committee of Red Cross Verifying the return of minors to their families. Qatar and Vatican They provide brokerage services.

The process occurs in both directions. yet, 122 children from 98 families They are back With their parents and guardians residing in Ukraine or third countries, 29 children returned to Russia. Recently, the First Lady of the United States, Melania Trump, confirmed that the Russian Federation is willing to provide objective and detailed information about these children.

Thanks to our cooperation with the American side, on October 11, seven minors were reunited with their families in Ukraine, and one girl returned to Russia. We believe that the direct connection between Moscow and Washington This will not only facilitate family reunification, but will also inform the international community of the real situation.

We consider the attempts of the Zelenskyy regime and its anti-Russian sponsors to exploit the issue of children to discredit our country as cynical and immoral. We urge all countries, including Argentina, to make an objective assessment of the situation and refrain from politicizing this very sensitive issue.