Oksana Tšervjakova, a representative for children's rights from the office of the Ukrainian parliament's ombudsman, highlights ongoing efforts to repatriate Ukrainian children forcibly taken by Russian authorities, yet acknowledges only a small number have returned home after four years of conflict.
In a recent interview with Postimees, Oksana Tšervjakova, the children’s rights representative from the office of Ukrainian parliament ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets, expressed the ongoing challenges faced in the mission to repatriate Ukrainian children abducted by Russian authorities. She noted the unprecedented efforts being made even four years after the beginning of the invasion, yet revealed that the numbers of children successfully returned to Ukraine are alarmingly low in comparison to the estimated 1.6 million Ukrainian children living in temporarily occupied territories.
Tšervjakova emphasized the complexity of the situation, explaining that various data sources indicate the existence of a significant number of Ukrainian children on occupied lands, but the exact figures regarding those forcibly taken by the Russian regime remain unknown. Her office continues to push for the return of these children, collaborating closely with NGOs, governmental agencies, and international partners to navigate through the obstacles raised by the Russian authorities.
Despite Russia's persistent resistance, the commitment to rescuing these children remains strong, and Tšervjakova's statements shed light on the ongoing humanitarian crisis stemming from the war. The plight of these children not only highlights the severity of the conflict but also raises urgent questions about the international community's role and response in ensuring their safety and return to Ukraine.
