Ukraine Reports Return of 2,000 Children

Ukraine has returned about 2,000 children taken to Russia over the past several years, First Lady Olena Zelenska said in an interview with The Dallas Morning News. She described each return as a separate operation involving Ukrainian officials, international organizations and other partners.

Zelenska said Russia has not cooperated on the issue and is allegedly concealing the children’s locations and obstructing their return. She cited the case of a boy from Mariupol who was taken by Russian official Maria Lvova-Belova, saying the child’s behavior and Ukrainian identity were subjected to psychological pressure.

The first lady said sustained political pressure from the international community was the most effective way to influence Russia. She praised U.S. First Lady Melania Trump for advocating for the children’s return and welcomed the creation of a U.S. Department of State program focused on locating and repatriating Ukrainian children.

Zelenska also emphasized the need for reintegration support after children return to Ukraine. Such assistance could include psychological and humanitarian aid, as well as foster care for children without close relatives, she said.