'We didn't kidnap them': Russia cynically justifies deportation of Ukrainian children
Vladimir Medinsky (Getty Images)
The Russian Federation did not kidnap Ukrainian children but rather rescued them, claimed the head of the Russian delegation and aide to the Russian President, Vladimir Medinsky, according to TASS.
During his conversation with journalists, Medinsky claimed that the issue of children was allegedly central to the Ukraine-Russia negotiations. Moreover, according to him, Russia could not documentally confirm which children were 'abducted by the Russian Federation,' as there were supposedly no lists.
"Children who found themselves caught between two fronts were evacuated, but if there is a family – they are returned," said the Russian representative.
He also mentioned the list Ukraine handed over today, noting that it contains only 339 names of such children, "not millions, not thousands."
Medinsky stated that as soon as legal guardians are identified, the children are immediately reunited with their families.
"Ukraine is turning the issue of 'child abductions' into a show for Europeans. There isn't a single abducted child — only children rescued by our soldiers," he said.
At the same time, he claimed that it was recently discovered that children from a similar list were "found in Germany, yet accusations were made against Russia." Notably, just minutes earlier, Medinsky had said that Russia had no confirmations or lists regarding Ukrainian children in its territory.
The Kremlin representative called Ukraine's claims about Russia abducting children a PR campaign.
"This disgraceful PR campaign must be stopped. All families will be reunited — it's a matter of honor," he declared.
Earlier today, the Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, Andriy Yermak, stated that Ukraine had handed over to Russian representatives a list of Ukrainian children who must be returned.
Deportation of Ukrainian children
According to Ukraine's Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets, since the beginning of the full-scale war, Russia has deported over 19,500 children from Ukraine. However, around 1,000 Ukrainian children have been successfully returned home.
Previously, it was reported that the issue of the deportation of Ukrainian children was the key reason the International Criminal Court in The Hague issued arrest warrants for Russian President Vladimir Putin and Maria Lvova-Belova, the Russian Commissioner for Children's Rights.
