Ukraine has returned eight children who were abducted by Crimean officials and placed in orphanages there, Darina Zarivna, an adviser to President Volodymyr Zelensky's chief of staff, reported, reported „Reuters“, reports News.bg.
The children were rescued as part of the „Bring Kids Back“ program and suffered abuse in the orphanage where they were placed. They were forced to participate in pro-Russian patriotic exercises, handle weapons and prepare for war. Zarivna, however, did not reveal details about how the children were rescued or where they are currently. However, she specified that they were hospitalized for treatment.
In 2023, the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin for war crimes related to the abduction of Ukrainian children. The Kremlin denies these charges.
On February 4, 12 more Ukrainian children were returned after being forcibly taken to Russia. Moscow and Kiev have carried out several exchanges of children since the start of the full-scale war in February 2022.
According to Ukrainian official sources, more than 19,500 children were abducted to Russia or to Russian-occupied territories without the consent of their families or guardians during the war.