Russia will return four Ukrainian children to their families as part of an agreement with Ukraine.
According to BBC, thousands of children have been taken since Russia launched an invasion into Ukraine last year. Ukraine officials estimate that number at about 20,000 children.
While the International Criminal Court has issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin and Russia’s commissioner for children’s rights, Maria Lvov-Belova, Russian officials say it “evacuated” the children “to protect them from danger.”
The ICC cannot arrest suspects and only take action in member countries, of which Russia is not one. The U.S. is also not part of the ICC.
“It’s justified,” said President Joe Biden. “I think it makes a very strong point.”
Qatar helped broker the new deal between Russia and Ukraine, which will release four children and hopefully be the start of continuing repatriations.
“We are encouraged by the commitment and openness shown by both sides throughout the process, which we sincerely hope will lead to more initiatives aimed at de-escalating tensions and building trust between the two parties,” said Qatari minister Lolwah Al Khater.
Reports said one of the four children, a seven-year-old, was reunited with his grandmother last week and has since arrived back in Ukraine. The other three children have been reunited with their families and are expected to be home in the Ukraine this week.
According to the BCC, Russian officials may have tried to turn the children away from their Ukrainian roots and give them a “patriotic” Russian education.
“They want to separate children from their biological families, Russify these children, hide these children, and transfer them to another ethnic group,” Daria Gerasymchuk, an adviser to the Ukrainian president for children’s rights and rehabilitation, previously told the BBC.
Meanwhile, Lvov-Belova said in a post that the country has never “been against children being reunited with their families.”
Photo Courtesy: ©Getty Images/Chris McGrath / Staff
Amanda Casanova is a writer living in Dallas, Texas. She has covered news for ChristianHeadlines.com since 2014. She has also contributed to The Houston Chronicle, U.S. News and World Report and IBelieve.com. She blogs at The Migraine Runner.
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