Intelligence has uncovered a Russian scheme to abduct Ukrainian orphans from the occupied territories
Ukraine’s Foreign Intelligence Service has uncovered a scheme to illegally transport Ukrainian orphans from the occupied territories to Russia under the guise of “health and recreation” programs. Specifically, this summer, children from an orphanage in the Donetsk region were taken to Russian territory, after which at least two children were not returned but were placed in foster care in the Moscow region.
According to the SZRU, the occupying administrations and Russian child welfare agencies are involved in the scheme. After being taken away under the pretext of rehabilitation or cultural events, the children fall under the control of local authorities, who arbitrarily change their legal status and place of residence.
The intelligence agency emphasizes that this constitutes systematic exploitation of Ukrainian children. It encompasses both state-level activities—including forced labor at defense industry enterprises and recruitment by special services—and criminal offenses such as human trafficking.
This was reported by the Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine.
Ukraine has already managed to repatriate 2,126 children abducted by the Russian Federation as part of the “Bring Kids Back UA” initiative.
Ukraine has also managed to return two children who were left without parental care in Kazakhstan and ended up in another country on their own. The brother and sister were evacuated from Almaty following a complex, multi-stage operation coordinated by Ukrainian agencies. The children are now safe at home.
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